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
Relevance
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
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
These earlier massacres also made the SDF hesitant about completely disbanding immediately, as Sharaa continues to demand.
—Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
The Bruins played in the American Basketball League through the 1930-31 season before disbanding, then were revived for the National Basketball League.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2026
Formed in Los Angeles in the late 1990s, Rilo Kiley became one of indie rock’s defining acts before fracturing and ultimately disbanding in 2008.
—Aidin Vaziri, San Francisco Chronicle, 12 Jan. 2026
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
These earlier massacres also made the SDF hesitant about completely disbanding immediately, as Sharaa continues to demand.
—Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
The Bruins played in the American Basketball League through the 1930-31 season before disbanding, then were revived for the National Basketball League.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2026
Formed in Los Angeles in the late 1990s, Rilo Kiley became one of indie rock’s defining acts before fracturing and ultimately disbanding in 2008.
—Aidin Vaziri, San Francisco Chronicle, 12 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disbanding
Verb
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In the Figures series, bodies hover in suspension, emerging from and dissolving back into surrounding space.—
Emilie Hardman,
JSTOR Daily,
6 May 2026
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In 2017, almost a decade before most celebrities talked openly about treatments, Cox opened up about dissolving her filler.—
Jackie Fields,
PEOPLE,
5 May 2026
Verb
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Experts and congressional aides have said that Iran was likely able to preserve some of its arsenal by deploying decoys and dispersing weapons around the country.—
Kayla Hayempour,
NBC news,
1 May 2026
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Johnson mentioned the possibility of Mexican wolves dispersing into Texas from the Mexican Wolf Experimental Population Area, which covers portions of Arizona and New Mexico south of Interstate 40.—
Dac Collins,
Outdoor Life,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disbanding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disbanding. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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