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
Clark said college students entering the job market today have to understand how to analyze and connect information across many disparate disciplines. Sarah Min, CNBC, 14 Apr. 2026 The ultimate goal of this center would be to centralize preventive and research efforts for men’s health and reduce disparate health outcomes. Denise Asafu-Adjei, STAT, 13 Apr. 2026
Noun
This stark disparity creates a quiet, devastating ripple effect. Gretchen Wittenmyer-Stone, Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2026 Research shows that single people going through cancer care have worse outcomes, and DelFattore said those disparities are amplified by stereotypes often held by doctors. Michal Ruprecht, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for disparate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disparate
Adjective
  • Iran is China’s largest trading partner in the Middle East, but China’s diverse energy sources have shielded it from the heavy economic toll and energy crisis that the war has caused for other countries in East Asia.
    Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 23 Apr. 2026
  • The vibrant Chowrasta Market isn’t far either, hawking favourites from Penang’s diverse cultures, from roti canai to bowls of syrupy chendul.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The difference came down to shot-making.
    C.J. Holmes, New York Daily News, 11 Apr. 2026
  • Adding your mattress to your spring cleaning checklist can make a real difference.
    Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 11 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
Noun
  • Providing more distinctiveness is Neville’s tagging along for the weekly dinner with the host (Edebiri in this case), Michaels and select cast members, which takes place early in the schedule and at the same Italian restaurant every week.
    Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 15 Apr. 2026
  • Doors opened; doors narrowed again when Jewish distinctiveness reasserted itself, whether through religious observance, Zionism, or simple refusal to disappear.
    Kenneth L. Marcus, Boston Herald, 13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The company develops distinctive film and television projects that bridge Japan and the United States — a mission reflected in its name, which combines the countries’ calling codes (+1 and +81).
    Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 22 Apr. 2026
  • The Haudenosaunee have navigated distinctive languages for each nation of the Confederacy.
    Tim Brinkhof, JSTOR Daily, 22 Apr. 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
  • All of Raphael’s portraits in the octagon are quite distinct—the palette ranges from emerald green and cinnabar to earthy browns and bone black—but there is one bizarre consistency.
    Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
  • Now, gravel paths and barefoot-friendly concrete pavers wind through mature oak trees, gently waving grasses, and structured succulents, leading to distinct seating and dining areas.
    Elizabeth Jardina, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The variety of organic molecules observed suggests that some chemical diversity has been preserved in ancient Martian sediments despite billions of years of diagenesis (the process by which sediment turns to rock) and radiation exposure.
    Leonard David, Space.com, 21 Apr. 2026
  • Jones said the exhibit is designed to connect newer residents with the people who built the community, noting that from its earliest days Thornton had a strong Hispanic presence that continues today alongside a growing diversity of other ethnicities.
    Anna Alejo, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Disparate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disparate. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.

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