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
Adjective
The sheriff's office sits in the middle of these two disparate sides in Defuniak Springs. Marisa Peñaloza, NPR, 14 Aug. 2026 At its most ambitious, the series allegorizes John and Hal’s disparate relationships to fear as a younger Black man and an older white one. Judy Berman, Time, 14 Aug. 2026
Noun
Amani emphasized that the work is critical to addressing health disparities, citing data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that indicates 80% to 90% of maternal deaths are preventable. Najahe Sherman, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026 Pooled records can expose drug side effects, track outbreaks and reveal disparities in care that smaller studies miss. Jennifer D. Oliva, The Conversation, 17 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for disparate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disparate
Adjective
  • Johnson County, with Iowa City and its teeming suburbs, and Scott County's economically diverse cities of Davenport and Bettendorf help make the district among the most competitive in the country.
    ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • While some may argue our city should reach higher, the entertainment offered by minor-league baseball would serve a more diverse community; see, for example, the Orlando Solar Bears minor-league hockey team.
    Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • For those familiar with the book or movie, the musical brings a different experience to the familiar story.
    Dillon Thomas, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • A lot of the issues revolved around who exactly represented Diomandé at different times of his career, with legal cases slowing down proceedings.
    Ben Church, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • These colleagues have a distinctive feel for news in their hometown.
    Scott Lebar, Sacbee.com, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Or even last summer when their response to the magic of Bilbao was to become Best Practice FC again, and hope that Thomas Frank could replicate the distinctive culture of Brentford in N17.
    Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • But thanks to Chris Mundy’s Lanterns, that initial promise of empowering creatives to bring their own distinct voices to the DCU has now been realized beyond dispute.
    Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Both West Coast indie presses are forging distinct, commercially viable paths outside the traditional New York publishing bubble.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Disparate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disparate. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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