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Disintegrate vs Degrade - What's the difference?

disintegrate | degrade |

In transitive terms the difference between disintegrate and degrade

is that disintegrate is to undo the integrity of, break into parts while degrade is to lower in value or social position.

In intransitive terms the difference between disintegrate and degrade

is that disintegrate is to fall apart, break up into parts while degrade is to reduce in quality or purity.

disintegrate

English

Verb

(disintegrat)
  • To undo the integrity of, break into parts.
  • * Kirwan
  • Marlites are not disintegrated by exposure to the atmosphere, at least in six years.
  • To fall apart, break up into parts.
  • Synonyms

    * (qualifier) dismember, dissolve * compost, decay, dissolve

    Antonyms

    * integrate

    Derived terms

    * disintegration * disintegrative * disintegrator

    degrade

    English

    Verb

    (degrad)
  • To lower in value or social position.
  • Fred degrades himself by his behaviour.
  • * Palfrey
  • Prynne was sentenced by the Star Chamber Court to be degraded from the bar.
  • To reduce in quality or purity.
  • The DNA sample has degraded .
  • (geology) To reduce in altitude or magnitude, as hills and mountains; to wear down.
  • Derived terms

    * degradation