Synonym Chooser

How is the word disparate different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of disparate are different, divergent, diverse, and various. While all these words mean "unlike in kind or character," disparate emphasizes incongruity or incompatibility.

disparate notions of freedom

When can different be used instead of disparate?

The words different and disparate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, different may imply little more than separateness but it may also imply contrast or contrariness.

different foods

When is it sensible to use divergent instead of disparate?

In some situations, the words divergent and disparate are roughly equivalent. However, divergent implies movement away from each other and unlikelihood of ultimate meeting or reconciliation.

went on to pursue divergent careers

In what contexts can diverse take the place of disparate?

While the synonyms diverse and disparate are close in meaning, diverse implies both distinctness and marked contrast.

such diverse interests as dancing and football

When could various be used to replace disparate?

While in some cases nearly identical to disparate, various stresses the number of sorts or kinds.

tried various methods

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 disparate Others are simply great at corralling disparate ingredients into a unified meal. The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Oct. 2025 There’s a perception of inconsistency if these fines are disparate, while some landlords may choose to pay the fines rather than correct the issues, Erica Rodgers, Excise and License’s policy director, told councilmembers. Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 28 Oct. 2025 In the Season 2 opener, Joanne and Noah opt to throw their first joint dinner party, an extremely literal way to join their disparate friend groups and further meld their lives. Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 24 Oct. 2025 Its hooves are an example of a phenomenon called convergent evolution in which disparate organisms independently evolve similar features — like the wings of birds, bats and the extinct flying reptiles called pterosaurs — while adapting to similar environments or ecological niches. Reuters, NBC news, 24 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for disparate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disparate
Adjective
  • Kiley represents the state’s 3rd Congressional District, a conservative-leaning area that is also the most geographically diverse in the state.
    Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 6 Nov. 2025
  • And whether your brand resonates with their very diverse customer base.
    Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • And to get to play these characters that are layered and complex and multidimensional is really fun — anything where there's a public and a private life, and a secret, and different elements at play, and having to keep different balls in the air is really fulfilling and fun.
    Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Each box of pods follows the same format as their whole bean deliveries, single origin from a range of different coffee-producing countries and ready to drop right into a Keurig machine.
    Noah Kaufman, Bon Appetit Magazine, 7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • His legacy is alive and well in the nightclubs of Recife, the capital city, where couples dance to forró’s distinctive ringing of triangles and humming zabumba drum until the early hours.
    Carolina Abbott Galvão, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
  • With 18 patterns in dinner, dessert, and mini sizes, these plates make your holiday table distinctive, sans the post-feast cleanup marathon.
    Lauren Bengtson, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The Maserati GranTurismo Folgore's exterior is distinct and aggressive.
    Charles Singh, USA Today, 2 Nov. 2025
  • Gold sought to make a similar point with Fuji – an album named for a distinct genre from Nigeria’s Yourba ethnic group that critics like Zikoko’s Tomide Marv have since claimed is largely absent from its tracklist.
    Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 2 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Disparate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disparate. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on disparate

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