dematerialized

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "dematerialized" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the process of something becoming immaterial or losing its physical form, often in contexts related to technology or philosophy. Example: "The digital age has led to the dematerialized nature of many products, as consumers increasingly prefer digital downloads over physical copies."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Arts

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Forms in their pictures lost their clear outlines and became dematerialized, shimmering and vibrating in a re-creation of actual outdoor conditions.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In the 1970s Prix and Swiczinsky, who had both studied at the Technical University of Vienna, created designs that dematerialized the heaviness of conventional architecture through unexpected airy angles and complicated spatial solutions.

Encyclopedia Britannica

His last sculpture also went through several revisions on the same block of stone and in its current state is an almost dematerialized sketch of two figures leaning together.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The exquisite rhythm of the lines and dematerialized forms of Gabriel and Mary in the central portion of The Annunciation led a number of artists to imitation, but none of them achieved such vibrant contours and such spirited forms as did Simone in this great masterpiece.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It was done so fast that it was as if the man had simply vanished, dematerialized.

The New Yorker

More recently, however, as the justification that he gave first and most often before the war — that Saddam Hussein's regime represented a direct military threat to the United States, because of his nuclear-weapons program and his ties to Al Qaeda — has dematerialized, the President has rhetorically brought democracy to the fore.

The New Yorker

It's sold by the childlike voice that Powley lends Minnie, the chipperness of the tone that Heller maintains throughout, and the generally dematerialized, nonphysical approach to sex.

The New Yorker

The movie is dematerialized; it never conveys the sense that "this happened" or "this is happening," but, rather, that "this sort of thing happened".

The New Yorker

Asked whether winning an N.B.A. title after the rest of his team inexplicably dematerialized would cement his legacy, James brushed off the question.

The New Yorker

Some of the young women were so beautiful that a force field around them dematerialized the raindrops before they hit.

The New Yorker

"They just dematerialized," he told me.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "dematerialized" to describe the transformation of physical objects into non-physical forms, especially in discussions of art, technology, or philosophical concepts.

Common error

Avoid using "dematerialized" in casual conversations where simpler words like "disappeared" or "vanished" would suffice. It's a specialized term best suited for specific contexts.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "dematerialized" is as the past tense or past participle of the verb dematerialize. It often functions as a verb describing the process of something losing its physical form, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Arts

25%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "dematerialized" functions primarily as a verb describing the act of something losing its physical form. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage in contexts like News & Media, Arts and Encyclopedias. While related to concepts like vanishing or dissipating, "dematerialized" implies a more transformative process, often in abstract or technical discussions. Therefore, while grammatically sound, you should avoid it in everyday conversations, where simpler alternatives could be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

vanished

Implies a sudden disappearance, often without explanation.

dissipated

Suggests a gradual fading or breaking apart until nothing remains.

disappeared

A general term for ceasing to be visible or present.

become immaterial

Focuses on the shift from physical to non-physical existence.

lost physical form

Highlights the absence of a tangible shape or structure.

abstracted

Implies a simplification or reduction of something to its essential qualities.

rendered intangible

Emphasizes the inability to be touched or grasped.

transformed into light

Suggests a conversion of matter into energy or pure illumination.

become ethereal

Conveys a sense of lightness, delicacy, and otherworldliness.

faded away

Indicates a gradual disappearance or loss of intensity.

FAQs

What does "dematerialized" mean?

"Dematerialized" means that something has lost its physical substance or form, becoming immaterial or abstract.

How can I use "dematerialized" in a sentence?

You might say, "The artist's sculptures resembled human forms "dematerialized into" lattices of light."

What are some synonyms for "dematerialized"?

Synonyms include "vanished", "dissipated", and "become immaterial".

Is "dematerialized" the same as "disappeared"?

While both indicate something is no longer present, "dematerialized" suggests a transformation of physical substance, whereas "disappeared" simply means something is no longer visible.