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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word dispatch distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of dispatch are assassinate, execute, kill, murder, and slay. While all these words mean "to deprive of life," dispatch stresses quickness and directness in putting to death.

dispatched the sentry with one bullet

When might assassinate be a better fit than dispatch?

While the synonyms assassinate and dispatch are close in meaning, assassinate applies to deliberate killing openly or secretly often for political motives.

terrorists assassinated the Senator

When could execute be used to replace dispatch?

The synonyms execute and dispatch are sometimes interchangeable, but execute stresses putting to death as a legal penalty.

executed by lethal gas

Where would kill be a reasonable alternative to dispatch?

In some situations, the words kill and dispatch are roughly equivalent. However, kill merely states the fact of death caused by an agency in any manner.

killed in an accident
frost killed the plants

When is it sensible to use murder instead of dispatch?

The words murder and dispatch are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, murder specifically implies stealth and motive and premeditation and therefore full moral responsibility.

convicted of murdering a rival

When is slay a more appropriate choice than dispatch?

The meanings of slay and dispatch largely overlap; however, slay is a chiefly literary term implying deliberateness and violence but not necessarily motive.

slew thousands of the Philistines

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 dispatch
Verb
The Japanese Air Self-Defense Force's Central Air Command dispatched fighter jets to intercept the plane. Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 July 2025 Dallas Fire-Rescue units were dispatched at about 3:38 p.m. to an area near Ross Avenue and North Central Expressway, a fire department spokesperson said. Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 July 2025
Noun
According to Adams County dispatch records, emergency crews responded to a Gettysburg hotel where CPR was administered on a male of Rivera’s age, the Evening Sun reported. David Chiu, People.com, 16 July 2025 Kendall County dispatch requests that a team be sent to the Bergheim Campground in Boerne, Texas, near Guadalupe River State Park. Hannah Fingerhut, Chicago Tribune, 12 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for dispatch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dispatch
Verb
  • Two days after the letter was sent, Abbott announced 18 items on the special session agenda.
    Rachel Royster July 14, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 July 2025
  • Corinth, the wrangler of volunteers, spent evenings recruiting people from Facebook to help the next day or coordinating with Starbucks and H-E-B, which both sent teams.
    Bayliss Wagner, Austin American Statesman, 14 July 2025
Verb
  • The man accused of pulling the trigger in a Christmas Day shooting that killed two Milwaukee teenagers is no longer on the run.
    Chris Ramirez, jsonline.com, 24 July 2025
  • The push for tools to address overdoses has taken on more urgency as deaths from synthetic opioids have skyrocketed in Texas and across the U.S. Fentanyl was identified as the likely cause of a surge of 79 overdoses in Austin last spring, which killed nine people.
    Bayliss Wagner, Austin American Statesman, 23 July 2025
Verb
  • The next day, J.F.K. was assassinated, spawning decades of conspiracy theories.
    Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 18 July 2025
  • The country’s intelligence services failed to prevent Israel from assassinating many top military officials, and now the Iranian regime is lashing out in all directions.
    Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 17 July 2025
Verb
  • As a fighting force, Hezbollah, the most powerful of Tehran’s proxy forces since 1982, was defeated.
    David Remnick, New Yorker, 28 July 2025
  • But how will the Four defeat an almost godlike being, even with their impressive superpowers?
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 28 July 2025
Noun
  • The Hint: Stiff The Clue: This Wordle has a double letter.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2025
  • Prairie Village residents are required to get a letter to notify them when construction will happen within 200 feet of their property.
    Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 3 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Last week, the Wall Street Journal reported on a birthday message sent bearing Trump’s name for Epstein’s 50th birthday in 2003.
    CNN.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 23 July 2025
  • Speculation about what was in store from the duo grew after the seemingly estranged former partners posted complementary messages on their social media accounts in the last week.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 23 July 2025
Verb
  • In return, he was allowed to effectively destroy a nature site of great conservation value.
    Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 26 July 2025
  • When the Silver Surfer arrives in New York to destroy the final teleportation tower, Johnny plays those traumatic recordings over speakers in Earth-828's version of Times Square, hoping to appeal to her empathy.
    EW.com, EW.com, 25 July 2025
Verb
  • Sade Robinson was reported missing before she was found murdered.
    Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 26 July 2025
  • At the second meeting, which occurred after Kaye and DeLuca were murdered, officers promised to increase patrolling in Encino-area neighborhoods. July 10, 4:10pm: A neighbor of Kaye and DeLuca called 911 after seeing someone climb the fence to gain access to the couple's property.
    Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 26 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Dispatch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dispatch. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.

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