disparate 1 of 2

Definition of disparatenext

disparity

2 of 2

noun

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
Adjective
The disparate outcomes can help explain the generally gloomy attitude most Americans have toward the economy even as headline figures, such as the unemployment rate and economic growth, remain mostly solid. Christopher Rugaber, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026 The disparate outcomes can help explain the generally gloomy attitude most Americans have toward the economy even as headline figures, such as the unemployment rate and economic growth, remain mostly solid. Christopher Rugaber, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
Noun
These disparities appear even among students who have similar levels of academic achievement and who are attending the same schools. Paul L. Morgan, The Conversation, 8 May 2026 Even in a household with two working partners, there is a disparity in the distribution of physical, cognitive and emotional labor, often referred to as invisible labor. Patricia Neligan, AJC.com, 7 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for disparate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disparate
Adjective
  • The family belongs to Sudan’s Nuba minority, a Black, ethnically diverse group of some three million people indigenous to the Nuba Mountains in South Kordofan, an oil-rich, agricultural region next to Darfur.
    Annie Hylton, New Yorker, 14 May 2026
  • The Proust Questionnaire, the static back page of Vanity Fair’s book for decades, will inspire interviews with a diverse set of public figures and will be filmed at the homes of subjects.
    Matt Donnelly, Variety, 14 May 2026
Noun
  • In practice, though, designing a policy that acts wisely on this difference is all but impossible.
    Editorial, Boston Herald, 10 May 2026
  • For Edison, junior Hayden Pham was a difference-maker throughout the match.
    Dan Rios, Daily News, 10 May 2026
Adjective
  • Galvin later confronted the man who had messaged Kianna, who told her several different stories, according to Childs’ report.
    Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026
  • Some states are taking a different approach to student misbehavior, saying that the answer is to bring in more consequences and give teachers more power to punish disruptive students.
    Stacker, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2026
Noun
  • The melting pot implied that citizens gradually shed the distinctiveness of their traditions in order to become fully American.
    Ari Berman, New York Daily News, 15 May 2026
  • The Pulitzer board encourages its juries to engage in both robust debate and its own inquiries into the distinctiveness of all entries.
    Max Tani, semafor.com, 6 May 2026
Adjective
  • The oat crust contributes its own distinctive earthy, toasty flavor.
    The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 May 2026
  • Balagov is indisputably a filmmaker with his own distinctive vision, ideally matched with Evgueni and Sacha Galperine’s glowering score and with Fray’s nimble shooting style, which often takes its cue to get in close from the knotted bodies on the wrestling mats.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2026
Noun
  • How can the sense of an absolute union of all matter be reconciled with the endless multiplicity and distinctness of it?
    Christian Wiman, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
  • However, a few hours with Air Riders reveals the nuance and depth of its gameplay, the distinctness of this flavor of racing game and its sensory, chaotic, and strategic appeal.
    Ryan Gaur, Rolling Stone, 19 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The rooms Designed like authentic Goan houses, each with its own distinct colors and landscaping, the resort seems quiet even when full (conference groups love this place).
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 May 2026
  • Bloomberg adds that Italian health care costs a few thousand dollars per year, and living in the south offers distinct tax benefits, such as a 7% flat annual tax for foreign retirees who move to smaller towns in less developed areas.
    Alex Ledsom, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
Noun
  • The task force has worked to identify a replacement name aligned with the college’s current priorities, including increasing diversity and choosing someone with direct ties to the institution.
    Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 12 May 2026
  • Generational diversity can absolutely be an asset.
    Johnny C. Taylor Jr, USA Today, 12 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Disparate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disparate. Accessed 16 May. 2026.

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