dispose

Synonym Chooser

How is the word dispose different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of dispose are bias, incline, and predispose. While all these words mean "to influence one to have or take an attitude toward something," dispose suggests an affecting of one's mood or temper so as to incline one toward something.

her nature disposes her to trust others

When might bias be a better fit than dispose?

The synonyms bias and dispose are sometimes interchangeable, but bias suggests a settled and predictable leaning in one direction and connotes unfair prejudice.

the experience biased him against foreigners

When can incline be used instead of dispose?

The words incline and dispose are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, incline implies a tendency to favor one of two or more actions or conclusions.

I incline to agree

Where would predispose be a reasonable alternative to dispose?

Although the words predispose and dispose have much in common, predispose implies the operation of a disposing influence well in advance of the opportunity to manifest itself.

does fictional violence predispose them to accept real violence?

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 dispose Composting allows customers to dispose of organic waste like food scraps and yard debris separately from other trash and recycling items, so that the city’s provider can convert it into nutrient-rich soil. Elliott Wenzler, The Denver Post, 26 Feb. 2025 Candace Craig was convicted of first-degree murder, tampering with evidence and disposing a body in an unauthorized location in connection with the death of her mother Margaret, whose remains were found by police in trash bags in the basement of her Hyattsville home in May 2023. Christine Pelisek, People.com, 24 Feb. 2025 The agency is responsible securing and disposing of nuclear waste, resopnding to nuclear and radiological emergencies, and serving the U.S. Navy with nuclear technology. Erin Mansfield, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2025 The Lost Bitcoin Story Sometime in the summer of 2013, Mr. Howells accidentally disposed of an encrypted hard drive contained the private key for 8,000 bitcoins, worth around $765 million at the time of writing. David G.w. Birch, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dispose
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dispose
Verb
  • It’s situated on Banderas Bay, one of the largest natural bays in the world.
    Kathleen Peddicord, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
  • The wreck of Georges Valentine is situated only 100 yards from the shore, and visitors often walk from House of Refuge to snorkel or dive the site.
    Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Despite the depth and breadth of his transactions, Sweeney did not classify his work as a teardown.
    Fluto Shinzawa, The Athletic, 8 Mar. 2025
  • Using data from nearly 10,000 herbarium specimens, scientists at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History have brought attention to the conservation status of these plants, revealing that 87 species—almost half of the genus—are now classified as threatened with extinction.
    Ella Jeffries, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Last week Musk said in a post on his social media platform X that Verizon — which has a $2 billion, 15-year contract to upgrade the system’s communications infrastructure — was putting airline passengers at risk because of problems with the current system.
    Chris Isidore, CNN, 6 Mar. 2025
  • While Waymo has already put driverless vehicles on the road in cities including Los Angeles and San Francisco, industry experts say Tesla is still far from offering a robotaxi service.
    Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Three years later, Ade arranged a romantic trip to Italy for the couple with the intention of asking Houston to be his wife.
    Megan Pinckney Rutherford, Vogue, 4 Mar. 2025
  • And with its intuitive drag-and-drop functionality, arranging, connecting and customizing elements has never been easier.
    Carly Schnurr, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • This places lion’s mane within the Hericiaceae family, a group of fungi where species often resemble one another, making identification difficult for foragers.
    Scott Travers, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025
  • And: The Tribune places great emphasis on the integrity of government and of the private institutions and individuals who serve and lead society.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Establishing a fully independent judiciary will be essential for organizing free elections, managing political disputes, and rehabilitating the economy, since international investment is often tied to confidence in a country’s legal systems.
    PATRICK VINCK, Foreign Affairs, 4 Mar. 2025
  • The bag’s practical design has an interior center pocket divider with a zipper closure and one interior slip pocket to organize my items while keeping them safe.
    Megan Schaltegger, People.com, 4 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • It was originally set to take place at Printed Matter, but, due to overwhelming interest, the event will now be held at the venue Baby’s All Right, located at 146 Broadway in Brooklyn.
    Pitchfork, Pitchfork, 1 Mar. 2025
  • Immigration, police, and relief authorities kept close watch on the Fort Worth Latino communities on the North Side and Dallas Alley, located on East Victory Boulevard, in the early 20th century.
    Richard J. Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • At their arraignment late Wednesday, a Brooklyn Criminal Court judge ordered the couple put on supervised release without bail.
    Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 6 Mar. 2025
  • The judge ordered the parties to confer on a briefing schedule.
    Gene Maddaus, Variety, 6 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

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

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