1
as in dissipates
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 scatters
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 disbands
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 disperses
Its version is shaped by federalism, polarization, and a constitutional system that disperses authority.
—
Alejandro Reyes, Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2026
In a video posted on the organization’s site, which was verified by NBC News, a crowd disperses quickly as multiple gunshots ring out and a handful of men return to pick up a man bleeding from a head wound.
—Henry Austin, NBC news, 7 Jan. 2026
The most satisfying moments come when all the chaotic ephemera disperses to make space for shimmering, ambient chords.
—H.d. Angel, Pitchfork, 7 Jan. 2026
This filter-free design disperses a steady stream of humidifying cool vapor for a full 24 hours.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 1 Jan. 2026
Taylor believed some of the biggest impact could come to the city’s Neighborhood Tourist Development fund, which disperses 10% of funds from the convention and tourism tax to nonprofits to host events, promoting tourism.
—Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 23 Dec. 2025
The electric current disperses rapidly through the surrounding medium, causing a voltage gradient that drops sharply with distance.
—IEEE Spectrum, 18 Dec. 2025
Chemical sunscreens — such as avobenzone, oxybenzone, octocrylene, ecamsule, homosalate, octisalate and octinoxate — bind to the top layer of skin and transform UV rays into heat that disperses.
—Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 11 Dec. 2025
As the party disperses, five ravers—Jade, Tonin, Bigui, Stef, and Josh (Joshua Liam Henderson)—break off and speed away, headed toward that other rave.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 14 Nov. 2025
Alejandro Reyes, Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2026
In a video posted on the organization’s site, which was verified by NBC News, a crowd disperses quickly as multiple gunshots ring out and a handful of men return to pick up a man bleeding from a head wound.
—Henry Austin, NBC news, 7 Jan. 2026
The most satisfying moments come when all the chaotic ephemera disperses to make space for shimmering, ambient chords.
—H.d. Angel, Pitchfork, 7 Jan. 2026
This filter-free design disperses a steady stream of humidifying cool vapor for a full 24 hours.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 1 Jan. 2026
Taylor believed some of the biggest impact could come to the city’s Neighborhood Tourist Development fund, which disperses 10% of funds from the convention and tourism tax to nonprofits to host events, promoting tourism.
—Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 23 Dec. 2025
The electric current disperses rapidly through the surrounding medium, causing a voltage gradient that drops sharply with distance.
—IEEE Spectrum, 18 Dec. 2025
Chemical sunscreens — such as avobenzone, oxybenzone, octocrylene, ecamsule, homosalate, octisalate and octinoxate — bind to the top layer of skin and transform UV rays into heat that disperses.
—Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 11 Dec. 2025
As the party disperses, five ravers—Jade, Tonin, Bigui, Stef, and Josh (Joshua Liam Henderson)—break off and speed away, headed toward that other rave.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 14 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disperses
Verb
-
The mist dissipates around a room instead of spewing out like a wet stream, which keeps Alpert worry-free about ruining her wooden bed frame.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
6 Feb. 2026
-
This is because its shell dissipates mechanical energy and tolerates nanoparticle inclusion in ways that synthetic materials seek to emulate for aerospace, armor and protective coating applications.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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This coloring occurs because deep, compact ice absorbs light’s longer wavelengths—like reds and yellows—and scatters shorter blue wavelengths back toward our eyes.—
Laura Kiniry,
Popular Science,
22 Jan. 2026
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This process — called Rayleigh scattering — scatters shorter-wavelength blue light and bends longer-wavelength red light toward the moon.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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And once the dog is found, the Search Party network disbands.—
Mike Feibus,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
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DiCaprio plays Bob, a revolutionary in hiding with his teen daughter (Chase Infiniti) after his activist group the French 75 disbands in chaos.—
Matt Donnelly,
Variety,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The middle class of cinema disappears.—
Joseph M. Singer,
Deadline,
6 Feb. 2026
-
What disappears with them is not glass, but evidence.—
Sudhir Gupta,
Rolling Stone,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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On a more technical level, it's made from cellulose fibers that undergo treatment with sulfuric acid or zinc chloride, which partially dissolves the paper's surface to create a barrier that can resist moisture and high temperatures.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
10 Feb. 2026
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Although most of the fragments in it show figurative details, the picture overall dissolves into an abstract pattern.—
Benjamin Lima
Special Contributor,
Dallas Morning News,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
One pauses a policy and hopes the controversy fades.—
Shane Harris,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Feb. 2026
-
When the trend fades, meaning remains — and meaning is bankable over time.—
Obi Asika,
semafor.com,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disperses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disperses. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.
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