disintegrated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "disintegrated" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has broken apart or fallen to pieces, often in a dramatic or complete manner. Example: "The old building disintegrated after years of neglect and exposure to the elements."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Make your own rhubarb cordial – put 400-450g rhubarb, 250g sugar, the juice of half a lemon and 500ml water in a pan, bring to a boil, simmer until the rhubarb has disintegrated, then cool, strain through muslin into a jug (it will take a few hours to drip through) and refrigerate; or buy a decent commercial brand.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The community has disintegrated and it is full of strangers.

The Guardian

The classic electoral coalition between peasantry and middle class which once underpinned Christian Democracy on the continent (and which also staunchly supported European integration) has long disintegrated.

The Guardian - Opinion

I went to Ghana with him for a fortnight, monitoring a Nkrumah referendum - because Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's ruler, had challenged the Guardian to pronounce his vote clean - and saw the other side of Arthur: the dogged reporter trudging from booth to booth and site to site vetting a poll which disintegrated into farce at the end.

The Guardian

Rogers, to be fair, has been one of Australia's standout performers of the series, a stout bread course at the beginning of a batting meal that has most commonly disintegrated into a trail of crumbs.

The Guardian - Sport

Opponents will never forgive the torture and "disappearances" suffered during his regime or the failed war crimes trial which disintegrated in 2000 after he was deemed to be suffering dementia.

The Guardian

The match disintegrated after that.

The Guardian - Sport

Rather than being vertically integrated, companies would be "virtually integrated"—by enterprises such as Enron that would "wire those thousands of firms back together cheaply and temporarily".As things have turned out, it is Enron that has disintegrated.

The Economist

Black men who worked full-time in 2004 earned 22% less than white men did, and fewer of them were employed at all.Another big change since the 1960s is that the black family has all but disintegrated.

The Economist

With the country divided from top to bottom, its security forces disintegrated and gangs roaming the streets, the international peacekeepers, who left Timor-Leste only a year ago, may be needed for some time.

The Economist

The governments in Khartoum and N'Djamena have armed each other's enemies, while the Chadian, Darfuri and Central African fighters, many of them bandits and warlords, have regularly switched between the array of alliances that have periodically formed and disintegrated in the region.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "disintegrated" to describe a process where something breaks apart completely, losing its original structure and form. For less dramatic scenarios, consider words like 'decayed' or 'fragmented'.

Common error

While "disintegrated" is a powerful word, avoid using it in contexts where a simpler term like "broke" or "fell apart" would suffice. Overusing strong vocabulary can make your writing sound unnecessarily dramatic or unnatural.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "disintegrated" is as a past participle or adjective. It describes a state resulting from the action of breaking apart or losing integrity. Ludwig AI indicates that this is a correct and usable term.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Formal & Business

18%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "disintegrated" is a grammatically correct and frequently used term to describe a state of complete breakdown or dissolution. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and suitable for use in various contexts. While versatile, it's best suited for describing a complete loss of structure, and care should be taken to avoid overusing it in informal settings. Alternatives like "fell apart" or "crumbled" may be more appropriate in some situations. The phrase sees its most frequent use in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fell apart

Implies a breakdown into pieces, often due to internal weaknesses or external pressure.

collapsed

Suggests a sudden and complete failure of structure or stability.

crumbled

Suggests a gradual decay or collapse into small fragments.

fragmented

Implies a breaking into smaller, disconnected pieces.

dissolved

Indicates a disappearance into a liquid or a complete fading away.

shattered

Suggests a violent breaking into many small pieces.

decomposed

Refers to the breakdown of organic matter through natural processes.

decayed

Similar to decomposed, but can also apply to non-organic materials.

evaporated

Indicates a disappearance as if turning into vapor or ceasing to exist.

vanished

Suggests a sudden and mysterious disappearance.

FAQs

How is "disintegrated" typically used in a sentence?

The word "disintegrated" is often used to describe something that has broken apart completely or ceased to exist, like 'The old building "disintegrated" after years of neglect' or 'The army "disintegrated" in the face of the enemy'.

What are some alternatives to "disintegrated" that I can use?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "fell apart", "crumbled", or "dissolved" instead of "disintegrated".

When is it appropriate to use "disintegrated" versus "fragmented"?

"Disintegrated" implies a complete breakdown and loss of structure, whereas "fragmented" suggests breaking into pieces that still exist as separate entities. Use ""disintegrated"" when something ceases to exist in its original form, and "fragmented" when it breaks into smaller parts.

What's the difference between "disintegrated" and "decayed"?

"Disintegrated" implies a more sudden and complete breakdown, often with force or impact, while "decayed" refers to a slower, more gradual process of decomposition. Use ""disintegrated"" for rapid breakdown and "decayed" for gradual decomposition.