disperse

1
as in to dissipate
to go off in different directions and cease to exist as a body or unified whole the crowd dispersed once the show ended

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2
as in to scatter
to cause (members of a group) to move widely apart the family of the missing woman dispersed searchers to all corners of the national park

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3
as in to disband
to cease to exist or cause to cease to exist as a group or organization the campaign staff dispersed almost immediately after the election

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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How does the verb disperse differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of disperse are dispel, dissipate, and scatter. While all these words mean "to cause to separate or break up," disperse implies a wider separation and a complete breaking up of a mass or group.

police dispersed the crowd

When can dispel be used instead of disperse?

Although the words dispel and disperse have much in common, dispel stresses a driving away or getting rid of as if by scattering.

an authoritative statement that dispelled all doubt

When could dissipate be used to replace disperse?

The meanings of dissipate and disperse largely overlap; however, dissipate stresses complete disintegration or dissolution and final disappearance.

the fog was dissipated by the morning sun

When would scatter be a good substitute for disperse?

The words scatter and disperse can be used in similar contexts, but scatter implies a force that drives parts or units irregularly in many directions.

the bowling ball scattered the pins

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of disperse Officers with the California Highway Patrol had already dispersed the crowd when police arrived, said Officer Allison Smith, a spokesperson with the Sacramento Police Department. Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 12 Feb. 2025 The exhaust fan above the stove won’t be enough to disperse the emissions, either. Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2025 Most of India’s existing plants are geographically dispersed and only have two or four reactors that have sub-gigawatt production capacity each. Ganesh Rao, CNBC, 13 Feb. 2025 Higher ceiling panels will allow orchestral sound more room to disperse, rather than clotting onstage. Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for disperse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disperse
Verb
  • The mixture of euphoria and sheer relief quickly dissipated into the evening air when the Aztecs learned their charter plane home had a mechanical issue that would take several hours to repair.
    Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Mar. 2025
  • So, the researchers have theorized that a super-heated ash cloud that dissipated quickly was actually the first event in the Vesuvius cataclysm.
    Michael Franco, New Atlas, 28 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Still, there are multiple speed bumps scattered on the road to success in this industry: labor issues, rising material costs, regulatory considerations and problems with technology adoption.
    Michael Pink, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
  • Arakawa’s body was found with an open prescription bottle and pills scattered on the bathroom countertop, while Hackman’s remains were found in the home’s entryway.
    Morgan Lee, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The Houston Comets won the first four WNBA titles before the franchise disbanded in 2008.
    Doug Feinberg, Hartford Courant, 21 Feb. 2025
  • President is expected to as soon as this week, according to reports, disbanding the agency's governing board and absorbing the 250-year-old mail provider into his administration.
    Giulia Carbonaro, Newsweek, 21 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Without the department, an important incentive to treat all children with dignity and respect could disappear.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Potato Cakes were replaced by crinkle fries in 2021, then briefly rejoined Arby’s menu in July 2024, but once again disappeared—resulting in an outcry from fans on social media.
    Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • In the weeks leading up to McMahon's confirmation, the White House considered issuing an executive order directing the education secretary to downsize the agency as much as legally possible while urging Congress to dissolve it entirely.
    Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 2025
  • Stir until the sweetener and salt dissolve fully, then carefully pour the brine over the radishes, discarding any extra.
    Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • The second week My usual redness around my cheeks had started to fade, and the annoying pimple that had been brewing on my cheek seemed to back off without its usual dramatic entrance.
    Larry Stansbury, Essence, 7 Mar. 2025
  • The blockbuster set, which is still the bestselling project in history, refuses to fade away, consistently finding a home on multiple Billboard charts.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Disperse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disperse. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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