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?

Examples of dispose in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Last year, Japan disposed of 2,348 bombs weighing 41 tons, per Reuters’ Kantaro Komiya. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Oct. 2024 These items should be disposed of with your regular trash or at a city Drop Off Center. Maia Pandey, Journal Sentinel, 9 Oct. 2024 Police allege Mims and Tippett assisted Brandon in disposing of Jessica's body. Samira Asma-Sadeque, People.com, 3 Oct. 2024 The Celtics had quickly disposed of the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals—a series sweep in which Brown was named MVP—so the team enjoyed a near week and a half gap before the start of the championship round against the Dallas Mavericks. Sean Gregory, TIME, 2 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for dispose 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dispose.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Thesaurus Entries Near dispose

Cite this Entry

“Dispose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dispose. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on dispose

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!