Definition of dispositionnext
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as in removal
the getting rid of whatever is unwanted or useless we'll have to find some means for the disposition of all of this junk

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word disposition distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of disposition are character, personality, temperament, and temper. While all these words mean "the dominant quality or qualities distinguishing a person or group," disposition implies customary moods and attitude toward the life around one.

a cheerful disposition

When is it sensible to use character instead of disposition?

While the synonyms character and disposition are close in meaning, character applies to the aggregate of moral qualities by which a person is judged apart from intelligence, competence, or special talents.

strength of character

When could personality be used to replace disposition?

The words personality and disposition are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, personality applies to an aggregate of qualities that distinguish one as a person.

a somber personality

When might temper be a better fit than disposition?

While in some cases nearly identical to disposition, temper implies the qualities acquired through experience that determine how a person or group meets difficulties or handles situations.

a resilient temper

When is temperament a more appropriate choice than disposition?

The words temperament and disposition can be used in similar contexts, but temperament implies a pattern of innate characteristics associated with one's specific physical and nervous organization.

an artistic temperament

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 disposition By the time law enforcement concluded, 105 attendees were determined to be undocumented immigrants and moved to nearby detention facilities for legal disposition. Michael Kaplan, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026 The couple’s cottage in the Muskoka Lakes region of Ontario, Canada, is listed as the place of final disposition. Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 9 Feb. 2026 Internal affairs investigations are sent to the police chief for final disposition. Matthew Cupelli, Cincinnati Enquirer, 9 Feb. 2026 Quenneville, who is in his first year with the Ducks, praised LaCombe’s disposition and saw his mild manner matter-of-factly, expressing confidence in his ability to handle the bright lights of the Olympic stage. Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 8 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for disposition
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disposition
Noun
  • The communal dining schedule is either the soul of the experience or its dealbreaker, depending on your temperament, with no middle ground.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Feb. 2026
  • The nominated Oscar shorts come in three categories — and a lot of subjects, styles and temperaments.
    Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • My inclination next holiday is to continue to hand him the cookies and the card but not the cash.
    R. Eric Thomas, Denver Post, 25 Feb. 2026
  • This necessity balanced out Donovan’s natural inclination to play Dillingham under stricter expectations.
    Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 24 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • In August 2009, 72-year-old William Wilkie died at his home after Heider performed an emergency appendix removal on him but discharged him from Lake Norman Regional Medical Center without prescribing antibiotics, says a wrongful death lawsuit filed in June 2010 by Wilkie’s widow, Brenda.
    Amber Gaudet Updated February 20, Charlotte Observer, 20 Feb. 2026
  • Some offer handles or Velcro closures for easy removal, while many are simply large versions of a basic rubber band.
    Jenessa Connor, Health, 20 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • When Whisenhunt returned for his second inning of work, the 25-year-old had a sequence to scrap from memory.
    Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2026
  • Power and grace in every step sequence and triple-lutz, triple-loop combination.
    Katie Gunderman, SELF, 26 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • That settlement also came with an agreement from the city to improve police oversight and to improve community relations.
    Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 24 Feb. 2026
  • Last year, the department signed seven similar agreements, transferring a sweeping slate of work to the Department of Labor and the Interior Department, in addition to the State Department and HHS.
    Annie Ma, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • When fewer people block aisles, reopen bins, or scramble at the door, flights board faster, tempers stay cooler, and everyone starts their trip on a better note.
    Julie Rousseau, Travel + Leisure, 21 Feb. 2026
  • Progressives are once again throwing a temper tantrum, acting like spoiled brats who can’t have another cookie.
    Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 19 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • People would generally agree that of all the mainstream country stars out there now, no one surpasses you as far as really having an appreciation and aptitude for bluegrass.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 20 Feb. 2026
  • That requires a certain mental aptitude.
    Mark Z. Barabak, Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Park, whose district stretches from Los Angeles International Airport to Pacific Palisades, said inoperable RVs frequently pose a threat to public safety — attracting crime or resulting in the disposal of waste into storm drains and waterways.
    David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2026
  • As primarily a trading bloc, the EU has a powerful tool at its disposal to retaliate — the bloc’s Anti-Coercion Instrument.
    ABC News, ABC News, 22 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Disposition.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disposition. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.

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