disintegration
noun
dis·in·te·gra·tion
(ˌ)dis-ˌin-tə-ˈgrā-shən 
plural disintegrations
: the act or process of disintegrating or the state of being disintegrated: such as
a
: the breaking down of something into small particles or into its constituent elements
Some glaciers have been destabilized by warmer ocean waters. Scientists fear that parts of the ice sheet may be in the early stages of an unstoppable disintegration.—
Justin Gillis
Justin GillisBut miraculously, officials say, the countless bits of debris from the disintegration of the space shuttle Columbia injured not a soul on the ground.—The New York Times
The New York Times
b
: loss of unity or integrity by or as if by breaking into parts
Declining sales led to the company's gradual disintegration and ultimate demise.
What's more, the fear of many conservatives that we might be at the mercy of unstoppable forces of social disintegration turned out to be wrong.—William Kristol
William KristolOver the long run, however, there is no substitute for addressing the root causes of crime—bad education and lack of job opportunities and the disintegration of families.—Daniel D. Polsby
Daniel D. PolsbyExamples of disintegration in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For instance, the North China Craton underwent significant disintegration for millions of years and lost its deepest root layers.
—New Atlas, 19 Apr. 2025
As Russia tried to find its way forward in the wake of the Soviet Union’s disintegration, Washington’s pursuit of security and democratization efforts clashed with Moscow’s ambitions to preserve its power and influence.
—Alexander Vindman, Foreign Affairs, 27 Mar. 2025
Constant observation of these events on your social media can create a massive shock to the nervous system and a sense of disintegration and fragmentation, coupled with intense emotions such as crying, shallow breathing or lashing out.
—Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2025
Although the former Syrian president’s unpopularity was widely recognized, the rapid disintegration of the Syrian army caught even Iran’s leadership—Assad’s primary patron—off guard.
—Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar, Foreign Affairs, 17 Mar. 2025
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New Atlas, 19 Apr. 2025
As Russia tried to find its way forward in the wake of the Soviet Union’s disintegration, Washington’s pursuit of security and democratization efforts clashed with Moscow’s ambitions to preserve its power and influence.
—Alexander Vindman, Foreign Affairs, 27 Mar. 2025
Constant observation of these events on your social media can create a massive shock to the nervous system and a sense of disintegration and fragmentation, coupled with intense emotions such as crying, shallow breathing or lashing out.
—Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2025
Although the former Syrian president’s unpopularity was widely recognized, the rapid disintegration of the Syrian army caught even Iran’s leadership—Assad’s primary patron—off guard.
—Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar, Foreign Affairs, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disintegration
Cite this Entry
“Disintegration.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disintegration. Accessed 27 Apr. 2025.
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