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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Relevance

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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
Ash will disperse farther away from the mountain but aircraft should avoid it as volcanic ash can damage engine parts. Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025 The last time there were protests the regime employed sound cannons, a type of acoustic weapon that disperses crowds in a second and causes long-lasting psychological damage. Sara Stridsberg september 15, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
People pay varying fees to the district courts, and those funds are dispersed broadly. Kansas City Star, 13 Sep. 2025 On the other hand, once opportunities are lost and talent is dispersed, rebuilding takes far more time and resources. Zeynep Hasgül, The Conversation, 12 Sep. 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 24 Sep. 2025.

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