A cellular process that results in the controlled breakdown of synapse. After it starts the process is continuous until the synapse has disappeared. [ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18083105 GOC:dos http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29844190 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22632716 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12062020 ]