Definition of disparatenext

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 The symptoms seemed so disparate, like distinct mugshots neatly pinned to an evidence board without any bold red strings or furious circles to show connection. Courtney Crowder, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026 The first three months of the year saw disparate trends in violence within the Chicago Police Department’s five patrol areas, records show, with a mixed bag of increases and further drops. Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026 Seimetz, who takes over lording duties from the Aunts whenever Agnes heads home from school, pulled from a disparate field of sources to step into Paula's unforgiving equestrian boots. Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Apr. 2026 Among these disparate groups were non-White voters, especially Hispanics and Asians, plus women, young adults, the college educated and the working class. David M. Drucker, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for disparate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disparate
Adjective
  • From penguins at Boulders Beach to whale spotting on the coast, packing a pair of binoculars ensures you a front-row seat to the diverse wildlife of South Africa.
    Abbey Hudetz, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2026
  • Annicelli said that Connecticut is home to a wide variety of diverse snakes and reptiles.
    Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Jeff’s worries, Rogers explains to the camera after seeing his young friend off, are different from the worry that one’s parents might separate.
    Jean Garnett, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2026
  • The three-block stretch, between 16th and 19th avenues, looks markedly different from just a year ago, when tents, abandoned cars and piles of trash crowded the street and sidewalks.
    Da Lin, CBS News, 18 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Investigators first identified Heuermann as a suspect in 2022 through his Chevrolet Avalanche, a distinctive pickup truck purchased on Long Island.
    ABC News, ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
  • The park features the distinctive Guggenheim Bandshell, and used to host New York Fashion Week in the spring and fall.
    Leigh Anne Miller, ARTnews.com, 15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • My own life does not feel like one continuous thing but, rather, two distinct halves that belong to two very different people.
    Cressida Leyshon, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026
  • With his wife, Anne, James nurtured a 40-acre ranch in Wynola, near Julian, that housed his art studio as well as visually distinct buildings that have come to be associated with James’ organic approach to architectural design.
    Michael James Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Disparate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disparate. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.

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