1
as in dissipated
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 scattered
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 disbanded
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
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Recent Examples of dispersed
The disaster led to an extensive decontamination effort to clean up nuclear material dispersed when conventional explosives in the hydrogen bombs detonated after hitting the ground.
—
Kim Tong-Hyung, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
It usually gets dispersed by late winter and early spring.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 12 Mar. 2026
Harris’El reportedly fled the scene and the group dispersed, some leaving in the Chrysler and others running out of the camera’s view.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 12 Mar. 2026
The secrets tumbling out of the past double to inform our perception of the present, and they’re dispersed at a steady pace, which helps to keep us hooked.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 11 Mar. 2026
Because the center remains under renovation for a substantial expansion, the SXSW events will be dispersed throughout several downtown venues.
—Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 11 Mar. 2026
The remaining visitors, a more intrepid bunch, dispersed themselves across a landmass the size of California.
—Kevin West, Travel + Leisure, 10 Mar. 2026
The crowd dispersed around noon, grabbing catered tamales on their way out.
—Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 5 Mar. 2026
Hosted by the Ramona Chamber of Commerce, the studios dispersed throughout Ramona will be open to visitors the weekend of April 11-12.
—Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026
Kim Tong-Hyung, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
It usually gets dispersed by late winter and early spring.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 12 Mar. 2026
Harris’El reportedly fled the scene and the group dispersed, some leaving in the Chrysler and others running out of the camera’s view.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 12 Mar. 2026
The secrets tumbling out of the past double to inform our perception of the present, and they’re dispersed at a steady pace, which helps to keep us hooked.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 11 Mar. 2026
Because the center remains under renovation for a substantial expansion, the SXSW events will be dispersed throughout several downtown venues.
—Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 11 Mar. 2026
The remaining visitors, a more intrepid bunch, dispersed themselves across a landmass the size of California.
—Kevin West, Travel + Leisure, 10 Mar. 2026
The crowd dispersed around noon, grabbing catered tamales on their way out.
—Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 5 Mar. 2026
Hosted by the Ramona Chamber of Commerce, the studios dispersed throughout Ramona will be open to visitors the weekend of April 11-12.
—Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dispersed
Verb
-
These surges occur because the kinetic energy of the moving mass of oil must be instantly dissipated, resulting in extreme pressure spikes that can exceed the structural design limits of the steel.—
Siddharth Misra,
Fortune,
6 Mar. 2026
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But then Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 and any illusion of free trade in energy dissipated overnight.—
Justin Worland,
Time,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The storms will be scattered, according to Doom, mostly near a warm front that is expected to cover the southern portion of the area.—
Madeline King,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
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At universities, the study of ancient Chinese texts has historically been scattered across disciplines; now, under government direction, universities are trying to gather that scholarship in new classics departments where, one theory goes, ancient truths can be nurtured and passed down.—
Chang Che,
New Yorker,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Order 2 disbanded the Iraqi army but did not disarm it.—
Farah N. Jan,
The Conversation,
10 Mar. 2026
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The Florida revelations came after the statewide New York Young Republicans chapter was disbanded last fall after antisemitic and racist messages between chapter leadership were leaked to the press.—
Andrew Lapin,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Mumma, 44, is charged with tampering with a deceased human body and tampering with evidence in connection with the death of Gratton, a 34-year-old transgender woman from Denver who disappeared in April and was found dead in a Lakewood alley in June.—
The Denver Post,
Denver Post,
12 Mar. 2026
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But others in Paine — where 70 people were forcibly disappeared under the Pinochet dictatorship, more than in any other municipality in Chile — are less optimistic about the rise to power of a supporter of the regime.—
John Bartlett,
NPR,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Order 1 dissolved the ruling Baath Party and removed all senior party members from their government positions, purging the administrative class that ran its ministries, hospitals and schools.—
Farah N. Jan,
The Conversation,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Sista’s commercial success never truly materialized, and Swing Mob dissolved in 1995 before Jodeci went on a very long hiatus starting in 1996.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The legal battle faded to the background.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
11 Mar. 2026
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Synchronized blinking faded when the researchers sped up the Bach chorales to 120 beats per minute.—
Jesse Greenspan,
Scientific American,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dispersed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dispersed. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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