1
as in dissolving
to cease to exist or cause to cease to exist as a group or organization
the university disbanded the committee after the report had been submitted the rock group disbanded upon finishing their farewell tour
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dispersing
to cause (members of a group) to move widely apart
police disbanded the rioters with tear gas
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of disbanding
Trump has mused to friends and advisers about disbanding the office, which has never really fulfilled the vision that Congress laid out for it two decades ago, after the 9/11 attacks.
—
Shane Harris, The Atlantic, 2 June 2026
In 2021, more than 43% of voters supported disbanding the department as the city reeled from Floyd’s killing and the massive protests and widespread rioting that followed.
—ABC News, 28 May 2026
Facing that, disbanding a unit is a rational response.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
Joined by bassist David Barbe and drummer Malcolm Travis, the group released two albums and toured regularly before disbanding amicably in 1995.
—Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 5 May 2026
The Sequence became the first female hip-hop act to sign with Sugar Hill Records and released three albums before disbanding in 1985.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 8 Apr. 2026
The group released seven studio albums between 1985 and 2011 before disbanding in 2014 after Spinks died of liver cancer, followed by Lewis’ death in 2020.
—Annie Harrigan, Billboard, 11 Mar. 2026
Over the past year, the Justice Department has been in turmoil, with new leaders essentially gutting the public integrity and tax units and disbanding a task force designed to fight international corruption.
—Carrie Johnson, NPR, 5 Mar. 2026
More recently, the Center established a new senior advisory committee after disbanding the former one last April.
—Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026
Shane Harris, The Atlantic, 2 June 2026
In 2021, more than 43% of voters supported disbanding the department as the city reeled from Floyd’s killing and the massive protests and widespread rioting that followed.
—ABC News, 28 May 2026
Facing that, disbanding a unit is a rational response.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
Joined by bassist David Barbe and drummer Malcolm Travis, the group released two albums and toured regularly before disbanding amicably in 1995.
—Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 5 May 2026
The Sequence became the first female hip-hop act to sign with Sugar Hill Records and released three albums before disbanding in 1985.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 8 Apr. 2026
The group released seven studio albums between 1985 and 2011 before disbanding in 2014 after Spinks died of liver cancer, followed by Lewis’ death in 2020.
—Annie Harrigan, Billboard, 11 Mar. 2026
Over the past year, the Justice Department has been in turmoil, with new leaders essentially gutting the public integrity and tax units and disbanding a task force designed to fight international corruption.
—Carrie Johnson, NPR, 5 Mar. 2026
More recently, the Center established a new senior advisory committee after disbanding the former one last April.
—Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disbanding
Verb
-
Ursula on the deck in the darkness, the wake phosphorescent green, everything behind her, all of Europe, dissolving.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
-
Bleach has no effect in dissolving the common culprits of bathroom drain clogs, like hair, oils, and toothpaste.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
Native ants are major contributors to underground ecosystems, controlling insect populations, dispersing seeds and improving soil health.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
4 June 2026
-
Eradication involves sterilizing male flies using radiation and dispersing them where screwworm flies are indigenous, according to the American Society for Microbiology.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disbanding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disbanding. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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