1
as in to dissipate
to go off in different directions and cease to exist as a body or unified whole
the crowd dispersed once the show ended
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to scatter
to cause (members of a group) to move widely apart
the family of the missing woman dispersed searchers to all corners of the national park
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to disband
to cease to exist or cause to cease to exist as a group or organization
the campaign staff dispersed almost immediately after the election
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of disperse
To combat the spread of the flies, the USDA disperses sterile flies into the area to stop the mating, a scientific method known as sterile insect technique (SIT).
—
Lori Ann Larocco, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2025
Anecdotal evidence suggests that some anachronistic fruits – such as the weird, bumpy-textured and softball-size Osage orange – were dispersed by ancient megafauna such as giant ground sloths.
—Aditya Reddy Kurre, The Conversation, 21 Oct. 2025
Lasko Oscillating Ceramic Space Heater, $47 in cart The oscillating feature on this Lasko heater helps disperse warmth evenly throughout small- or medium-sized rooms.
—Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
But advocates pointed out that nearly every person in charge of administering and overseeing the billions of dollars dispersed to states through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act was fired, and the pending layoffs threaten funding for years to come.
—Molly Gibbs, Mercury News, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disperse
Lori Ann Larocco, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2025
Anecdotal evidence suggests that some anachronistic fruits – such as the weird, bumpy-textured and softball-size Osage orange – were dispersed by ancient megafauna such as giant ground sloths.
—Aditya Reddy Kurre, The Conversation, 21 Oct. 2025
Lasko Oscillating Ceramic Space Heater, $47 in cart The oscillating feature on this Lasko heater helps disperse warmth evenly throughout small- or medium-sized rooms.
—Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
But advocates pointed out that nearly every person in charge of administering and overseeing the billions of dollars dispersed to states through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act was fired, and the pending layoffs threaten funding for years to come.
—Molly Gibbs, Mercury News, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disperse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disperse
Verb
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Stigma surrounding eschewing brand names in favor of lower-cost options has all but dissipated.—
Kate Nishimura,
Sourcing Journal,
23 Oct. 2025
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Those have dissipated this season, and the offense is thriving.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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And a plastic family who lie scattered across the floor, still blank-faced and smiling.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Oct. 2025
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But during the sunless winter, when the Arctic stays in near-total darkness for months, the same layer turns deep blue, scattering light within the eye to capture every available photon.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Soon after the May 2024 text exchange, the group chat disbanded.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
21 Oct. 2025
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The Indiana 50501 protest group disbanded due to internal infighting.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Thinning and disappearing sea ice also disrupts Arctic seals’ feeding habits and makes the Arctic more accessible to humans, which further increases the overall risk to these species.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
18 Oct. 2025
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Bystanders captured video showing the jet corkscrewing toward the ground, then disappearing behind homes before a large black plume of smoke appears.—
Pete Muntean,
CNN Money,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Later, Gipson nearly sacked Baker Mayfield last week on what dissolved into a third-down conversion.—
Jerry McDonald,
Mercury News,
19 Oct. 2025
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But, like the Mandala, the festival is also destined to dissolve.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
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After a disappointing domestic debut and meager turnout overseas, the sci-fi sequel is fading too fast to have any hope of recouping its $180 million production budget in theaters.—
J. Kim Murphy,
Variety,
18 Oct. 2025
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Back in Guatemala City, as the light begins to fade from the skyline, the maquila workers emerge from their factories.—
Ladan Anoushfar,
CNN Money,
18 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Disperse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disperse. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.
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