disintegrate
verb
dis·in·te·grate (ˌ)dis-ˈin-tə-ˌgrāt 
disintegrated; disintegrating; disintegrates
transitive verb
1
: to break or decompose into constituent elements, parts, or small particles
water disintegrates the limestone
2
: to destroy the unity or integrity (see integrity sense 3) of
The lies disintegrated their marriage.
intransitive verb
1
: to break or separate into constituent elements or parts
The iron hinges were disintegrating into dust.
2
: to lose unity or integrity by or as if by breaking into parts
The relationship started to disintegrate.
3
: to undergo a change in composition (see composition sense 2)
an atomic nucleus that disintegrates because of radioactivity
disintegrative
(ˌ)dis-ˈin-tə-ˌgrā-tiv
adjective disintegrator
(ˌ)dis-ˈin-tə-ˌgrā-tər
noun 
Synonyms
- break down
- corrupt
- decay
- decompose
- fester
- foul
- mold
- molder
- perish [chiefly British]
- putrefy
- rot
- spoil
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The paper will disintegrate if it gets wet. The laser can disintegrate most kinds of rock.
Recent Examples on the Web The particles, many no bigger than a grain of sand or a pea, blast across the sky at 132,000 mph and disintegrate high up in our atmosphere after making a brilliant flash of light. 
Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 6 Aug. 2022 As the paint became thicker, the cathedral’s stable reality began to disintegrate. Washington Post, 7 July 2022 When buried in landfills, PLA will eventually disintegrate, but that would likely take decades. Mark Gillispie, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Aug. 2022 When buried in landfills, PLA will eventually disintegrate, but that would likely take decades. CBS News, 9 Aug. 2022 When buried in landfills, PLA will eventually disintegrate, but that would likely take decades. Mark Gillispie, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2022 Some folks seem to assume that fruits and vegetables left outside will shrivel, turn black, and disintegrate in a matter of hours, like a time-lapse video from middle school biology. Mark Remy, Outside Online, 28 Dec. 2018 Toxic teams crumble and disintegrate under the weight of even a whisper. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 15 June 2022 Jeremy Irons plays twin gynecologists, Elliot and Beverly, whose lives disintegrate after meeting Genevieve Bujold's actress Claire. Clark Collis, EW.com, 3 June 2022 See More
Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 6 Aug. 2022 As the paint became thicker, the cathedral’s stable reality began to disintegrate. Washington Post, 7 July 2022 When buried in landfills, PLA will eventually disintegrate, but that would likely take decades. Mark Gillispie, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Aug. 2022 When buried in landfills, PLA will eventually disintegrate, but that would likely take decades. CBS News, 9 Aug. 2022 When buried in landfills, PLA will eventually disintegrate, but that would likely take decades. Mark Gillispie, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2022 Some folks seem to assume that fruits and vegetables left outside will shrivel, turn black, and disintegrate in a matter of hours, like a time-lapse video from middle school biology. Mark Remy, Outside Online, 28 Dec. 2018 Toxic teams crumble and disintegrate under the weight of even a whisper. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 15 June 2022 Jeremy Irons plays twin gynecologists, Elliot and Beverly, whose lives disintegrate after meeting Genevieve Bujold's actress Claire. Clark Collis, EW.com, 3 June 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1796, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Kids Definition
disintegrate
verb
dis·in·te·grate dis-ˈin-tə-ˌgrāt
disintegrated; disintegrating
: to separate or break up into small parts or pieces
Medical Definition
disintegrate
verb
dis·in·te·grate (ˈ)dis-ˈint-ə-ˌgrāt
disintegrated; disintegrating
transitive verb
: to break or decompose into constituent elements, parts, or small particles
intransitive verb
1
: to break or separate into constituent elements or parts
2
: to undergo a change in composition
an atomic nucleus that disintegrates because of radioactivity
disintegrate
verb
1
as in to decompose
to go through decomposition fallen leaves slowly disintegrate over the course of the winter Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- decompose
- rot
- decay
- deteriorate
- crumble
- perish
- mold
- spoil
- fester
- putrefy
- corrupt
- fall apart
- descend
- molder
- turn
- contaminate
- foul
- run to seed
- break down
- rust
- sour
- pollute
- taint
- ferment
- defile
- degenerate
- go to seed
- curdle
- turn off
- mortify
- wither
- sink
- decline
- addle
- dilapidate
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- grow
- develop
- ripen
- mature
- restore
- renew
- age
- purify
- improve
- refresh
- cleanse
- integrate
- assemble
- compose
- better
- ameliorate
- meliorate
2
as in to crush
to reduce to fine particles modern air pollution is gradually disintegrating the ancient temple's irreplaceable friezes Synonyms & Similar Words
- crush
- grind
- pound
- crumble
- beat
- pulverize
- powder
- mill
- atomize
- smash
- mull
- shatter
- grate
- bray
- fracture
- break
- comminute
- fragment
- splinter
- crunch
- kibble
- bust
- dash
- micronize
3
as in to disrupt
to cause to separate into pieces usually suddenly or forcibly a tornado disintegrated the building in a matter of seconds Synonyms & Similar Words
- disrupt
- break
- fracture
- destroy
- fragment
- shatter
- ruin
- reduce
- split
- dismember
- explode
- smash
- crush
- break up
- bust
- burst
- blast
- rive
- wreck
- crack
- powder
- pulverize
- grind
- pop
- implode
- splinter
- detonate
- atomize
- blow up
- shiver
- chip
- sliver
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- rebuild
- heal
- repair
- fix
- reconstruct
- patch
- mend
- renovate
- recondition
- doctor