disintegrating
Breaking into pieces
Disintegrating describes something breaking apart into smaller pieces or losing its structural integrity.
A disintegrating building crumbles over time; a disintegrating marriage falls apart through accumulated strain.
The word captures the process of coming undone: The old manuscript was disintegrating in my hands.
Figuratively, anything cohesive can disintegrate—plans, alliances, composure.
Breaking down gradually
- shatteringBreaking violently apart
- splinteringBreaking into sharp fragments
- fracturingProcess of breaking
- fragmentingBreaking into smaller pieces
rupturing · tearing · shredding · pulverizing · smashing · separating · dismembering · disassembling
Organic matter breaking down
- rottingOrganic matter decomposing
- deterioratingBecoming progressively worse
- molderingSlowly decomposing over time
- corrodingDeteriorating through chemical action
withering · degrading · festering · perishing · spoiling · putrefying · atrophying · rusting
Passing into solution
- dispersingSpreading widely apart
- diffusingSpreading particles or light
- meltingSolid-to-liquid transition
- liquefyingConverting to liquid state
disappearing · fading · vanishing · evaporating · dissipating · sublimating · diluting · breaking up
crumbling
Breaking down gradually
- shatteringBreaking violently apart
- splinteringBreaking into sharp fragments
- fracturingProcess of breaking
fragmenting · rupturing · tearing · shredding · pulverizing · smashing · separating · dismembering · disassembling · dismantling
decomposing
Organic matter breaking down
- rottingOrganic matter decomposing
- deterioratingBecoming progressively worse
- molderingSlowly decomposing over time
corroding · withering · degrading · festering · perishing · spoiling · putrefying · atrophying · rusting · oxidizing
dissolving
Passing into solution
- dispersingSpreading widely apart
- diffusingSpreading particles or light
- meltingSolid-to-liquid transition
liquefying · disappearing · fading · vanishing · evaporating · dissipating · sublimating · diluting · breaking up · separating
- breakingbreaking, cracking, fracturing, rupturing, shattering
- deterioratingdecaying, decomposing, degrading, rotting, eroding
- spoiledrotten, rotted, rotting, spoiled, spoiling
- surrendersurrender, surrenders, surrendering, I surrender, capitulate
- grindinggrinding, milling, crushing, pulverizing, granulation
disintegratingsolidifying
Becoming rigid or fixed
coalescing · cohering · holding together · consolidating · unifying
disintegratingassembling
Fitting parts together
forming · constructing · building · construction · synthesizing