disperse 1 of 2

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

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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

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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

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dispersed

2 of 2

verb (2)

past tense of disperse
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

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2
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

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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 disperse
Verb
Entomologist Shadrack Muya, a senior lecturer at Kenya’s Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, told the Associated Press that garden ants are important for aerating soils, enhancing soil fertility and dispersing seeds. Evelyne Musambi, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2025 Each year, the CPB disperses $535 million in taxpayer funds to public radio and TV stations nationwide, including stations with PBS and NPR. Jade Walker, CNN Money, 30 Apr. 2025
Verb
Drivers moved to that intersection after police dispersed a group who had taken over a street near the 8100 block of University City Boulevard. Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 12 Mar. 2025 Federal student loans, like other forms of federal financial aid, will continue to be dispersed as long as Congress keeps the programs around. Zachary Schermele, USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for disperse

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Cite this Entry

“Disperse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disperse. Accessed 18 May. 2025.

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