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
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
This later disperses heat and is formulated with additional cooling gel compared to standard foams, while gently cushioning pressure points.
—Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 11 Nov. 2025
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
This later disperses heat and is formulated with additional cooling gel compared to standard foams, while gently cushioning pressure points.
—Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 11 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disperses
Verb
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Even after the storm dissipates, the frigid temperatures could prolong its effects, making snow and ice more difficult to clear.—
Bailey Allen,
The Providence Journal,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Pink Siifu appears briefly, then dissipates into the album’s dreamlike drift.—
Petala Ironcloud,
Pitchfork,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Everyone scatters — Zoë, Dinah, and Sarah are okay, while Malik is more compromised.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
10 Dec. 2025
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Here, laser light is shone onto body tissues and the unique pattern of light that scatters back is analyzed, similar to how different materials reflect light in distinctive ways.—
Abhimanyu Ghoshal,
New Atlas,
4 Dec. 2025
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
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As of February 25, 2026, that right disappears as the Home Office enforces new rules of entry.—
Duncan Madden,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
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In Weapons, from writer-director Zach Cregger, a small town is thrown into paranoia and terror when an entire classroom of children mysteriously disappears on the same night.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Coca says vinegar works well as a stainless steel cleaner, because the acidity of vinegar dissolves the calcium deposits and greasy residues that commonly collect on stainless steel.—
Kate Van Pelt,
The Spruce,
18 Jan. 2026
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Its cleaning solution dissolves grime, which is lifted by tiny scrubber dots on its mop pads.—
Sian Babish,
PEOPLE,
18 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The notion of grief gradually fades into the backdrop, finally re-emerging in a manner that is, thanks to the film’s lumpy tonal mixture, more confusing than emotionally cleansing.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
23 Jan. 2026
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While being stuck at home for several days might feel fun and cozy at first, that novelty fades fast.—
Avery Newmark,
AJC.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disperses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disperses. Accessed 24 Jan. 2026.
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