Synonyms of disperse

disperse

verb

di-ˈspərs 

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

• dissipate
• scatter
• disappear
• dissolve
• fade
• disassemble
• evaporate
• disband
• divide
• diverge
• melt
• spill
• flee
• separate
• fork
• branch (out)
• clear
• break up
• evanesce
• go (away)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• meet
• gather
• congregate

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

• scatter
• dissipate
• disband
• dispel
• separate
• isolate
• spread
• segregate
• squander
• diffuse
• disseminate
• clear out
• split (up)
• part
• diverge
• break up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• collect
• gather
• concentrate
• assemble
• congregate
• cluster
• conglomerate
• unite
• unify
• ingather
• agglutinate

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

• disband
• dissolve
• break up
• demobilize

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• join
• unite
• incorporate
• consolidate
• band
• hang together

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb disperse differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of disperse are dispel, dissipate, and scatter. While all these words mean "to cause to separate or break up," disperse implies a wider separation and a complete breaking up of a mass or group.

police dispersed the crowd

When can dispel be used instead of disperse?

Although the words dispel and disperse have much in common, dispel stresses a driving away or getting rid of as if by scattering.

an authoritative statement that dispelled all doubt

When could dissipate be used to replace disperse?

The meanings of dissipate and disperse largely overlap; however, dissipate stresses complete disintegration or dissolution and final disappearance.

the fog was dissipated by the morning sun

When would scatter be a good substitute for disperse?

The words scatter and disperse can be used in similar contexts, but scatter implies a force that drives parts or units irregularly in many directions.

the bowling ball scattered the pins

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of disperse

Police used pepper spray to disperse the crowd, and a few students complained of being affected by the pepper spray and were being treated and observed by the school's nursing staff, Rike wrote. — Arkansas Online, 4 Sep. 2026

There’s no difference between the some 97 or so categories handed out this weekend and the glitzy NBC telecast where the final 19 categories will be dispersed on Monday, September 14. — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2026

Tech firms are also making a big push back into the city center after many dispersed during the Covid-19 pandemic. — Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026

The transfer station disperses collected waste to Waste Management facilities. — Caden Perry, jsonline.com, 3 Sep. 2026