1
as in sending
to cause to go or be taken from one place to another
dispatched a messenger with urgent news
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in killing
to deprive of life
the exterminator dispatched the termites with professional efficiency
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in murdering
to put to death deliberately
during his reign of terror the dictator dispatched thousands without the slightest qualm
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in defeating
to achieve a victory over
they dispatched the other team without breaking a sweat
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 dispatching
By unmasking Ghostface in the very first scene of the movie and then dispatching him, Scream VI pulls the rug out from under audiences in a way that most slasher sequels could never dream of, especially this many movies in.
—
Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
Hruby pinned all three opponents so far in less than a minute, including dispatching Discovery Canyon’s Sophia Flores in 48 seconds in the semifinals.
—Nate Peterson, Denver Post, 21 Feb. 2026
The very act of dispatching armed soldiers to the parliament building and transporting them by helicopter constituted acts of insurrection, Ji said.
—Helen Regan, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
Over the past two-plus years, Verlander began developing his own admiration for the big left-hander who was dispatching hitters in his old stomping grounds.
—Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
The administration has established a massive military presence near the Islamic Republic, dispatching the USS Abraham Lincoln, along with its three accompanying destroyers, fighter jets and other military assets.
—Filip Timotija, The Hill, 12 Feb. 2026
In the playoffs, with QB Drake Maye struggling, the Patriots leaned on their defense, dispatching the Los Angeles Chargers and Houston Texans in the first two rounds.
—CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
Thanks largely to Maye’s ascension and the influence of head coach Mike Vrabel, the Patriots followed up back-to-back four-win seasons by going 14-3, then dispatching the Chargers, Texans and Broncos to reach their first Super Bowl since the 2018 season.
—Zack Cox, Hartford Courant, 4 Feb. 2026
At the time, the company was trying to break into the lottery ticket courier business, which sidesteps state laws prohibiting online gaming by taking lottery orders via a phone app, and then dispatching a courier to purchase tickets in-person at licensed retailers.
—Eric Dexheimer, Houston Chronicle, 30 Jan. 2026
Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
Hruby pinned all three opponents so far in less than a minute, including dispatching Discovery Canyon’s Sophia Flores in 48 seconds in the semifinals.
—Nate Peterson, Denver Post, 21 Feb. 2026
The very act of dispatching armed soldiers to the parliament building and transporting them by helicopter constituted acts of insurrection, Ji said.
—Helen Regan, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
Over the past two-plus years, Verlander began developing his own admiration for the big left-hander who was dispatching hitters in his old stomping grounds.
—Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
The administration has established a massive military presence near the Islamic Republic, dispatching the USS Abraham Lincoln, along with its three accompanying destroyers, fighter jets and other military assets.
—Filip Timotija, The Hill, 12 Feb. 2026
In the playoffs, with QB Drake Maye struggling, the Patriots leaned on their defense, dispatching the Los Angeles Chargers and Houston Texans in the first two rounds.
—CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
Thanks largely to Maye’s ascension and the influence of head coach Mike Vrabel, the Patriots followed up back-to-back four-win seasons by going 14-3, then dispatching the Chargers, Texans and Broncos to reach their first Super Bowl since the 2018 season.
—Zack Cox, Hartford Courant, 4 Feb. 2026
At the time, the company was trying to break into the lottery ticket courier business, which sidesteps state laws prohibiting online gaming by taking lottery orders via a phone app, and then dispatching a courier to purchase tickets in-person at licensed retailers.
—Eric Dexheimer, Houston Chronicle, 30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dispatching
Verb
-
Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio.—
Zev Fima,
CNBC,
5 Mar. 2026
-
People walking in the vicinity of Waukegan City Hall or the Metra railroad station carrying an empty coffee cup or soda can can dispose of it in a recycling bin rather than sending it to a landfill via a garbage can.—
Steve Sadin,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The latest Middle East conflict continues spiraling days after Israel and the US launched their joint operation on Iran, killing more than 1,000 people, triggering retaliatory strikes on Israel and neighboring Gulf states and plunging the region into fear and uncertainty.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Video of a barricade situation in Baltimore County is gaining attention and giving a closer look at what led to police shooting and killing a man inside his home on Wednesday night.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Each night, the traitors eliminate one faithful by figuratively murdering them, ending their time on the show.—
Tiney Ricciardi,
Denver Post,
3 Mar. 2026
-
People being selfish, people being greedy, people murdering other people, people kidnapping other people, taking advantage of women, people taking advantage of children, all of this awful stuff.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Texas State men's basketball finished the regular season with a bang, defeating App State 60-57 to squeeze its way into a six-way tie for second place in the Sun Belt.—
Caleb Yum,
Austin American Statesman,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Mater Dei celebrated its return to the top of CIF Southern Section boys soccer by defeating rival Orange Lutheran 2-0 in the Open Division final at El Modena High on Saturday.—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Cryopreserved embryos must remain at a consistent temperature, and transporting them, even under optimal conditions, introduces some risk, according to the lawsuit.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Mar. 2026
-
About one fifth of the world’s global trade in LNG and daily oil production passes through the narrow stretch of water off Iran’s southern coast, and there are few other options for transporting those cargoes to global markets.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The beams would be far brighter than the full moon and, even if carefully pointed, would scatter in the atmosphere to be very bright off-beam, disrupting wildlife and effectively destroying the sky’s remaining natural beauty by erasing the stars from our sight.—
Phil Plait,
Scientific American,
6 Mar. 2026
-
An estimated 50,000 pounds of ice collapsed the sanctuary roof, destroying nearly everything.—
Marvin Hurst,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The presiding judge in the case against Tyler Robinson, accused of assassinating conservative icon Charlie Kirk last September, will rule on a critical defense motion today.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Harry Jacobs, who was recently named head of the office's criminal division, was also involved in the prosecution of Vance Boelter, the man accused of assassinating former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark.—
Sarah N. Lynch,
CBS News,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Whether a brave, thrilling but ultimately unsuccessful attempt at overcoming a seemingly impossible target of 254 to beat India and reach the T20 World Cup final will be enough to make up for England’s desperately disappointing winter.—
Paul Newman,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
-
His big struggle was overcoming the same challenge most pitchers face after a long layoff.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dispatching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dispatching. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
