disintegrate

[dis-in-tuh-greyt] / dɪsˈɪn təˌgreɪt /

VERB

fall apart; reduce to pieces

Synonyms

STRONGEST

break down break up come apart crumble decay decompose degenerate descend disband dismantle rot sever shatter sink splinter wash out wither

STRONG

atomize decline deliquesce detach dilapidate disconnect disorganize disperse disunite divide molder pulverize putrefy separate spoil taint turn worsen

WEAK

break apart disimprove fade away fall to pieces take apart turn to dust wash away

Antonyms

STRONGEST

build combine develop fix flourish grow improve increase join mend put together rise strengthen unite

STRONG

attach collect connect couple gather link

WEAK

meld

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The skins contain natural oils, and garments not kept in a temperature-controlled environment -- ideally off-season in cold vaults -- can dry out and disintegrate.

From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026

This kind of "odd" solid can even disintegrate on its own.

From Science Daily • Oct. 21, 2025

Were you to cook Swiss chard fully intact, without separating the stems and leaves, the leaf would disintegrate by the time the stems were tender.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 3, 2025

SpaceX, for instance, designs most of its Starlink satellites to disintegrate upon reentry.

From Salon • Apr. 12, 2025

Operating on the assumption that, sooner or later, even the toga will make a comeback, he holds on to his clothing and continues to wear things long after they've begun to disintegrate.

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris

Vocabulary lists containing disintegrate

The Lightning Thief

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Fahrenheit 451

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Farewell to Manzanar

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!