1
as in dissipating
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in scattering
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 dissolving
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
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 dispersing
The crowd of students that had flooded into Klyde Warren Park was gradually dispersing; some returned to the classroom and others lingered around the greenery.
—
Jessica Ma, Dallas Morning News, 18 Feb. 2026
Videos shared online show the moments after the situation escalated, with groups of teens running and dispersing outside the building.
—Nicole Nielsen, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
Fit for purpose Next-gen designs could boost those gains by dispersing battery material around drone frames, electric motors, or other surfaces.
—IEEE Spectrum, 3 Feb. 2026
Some officers then deployed pepper balls, dispersing the crowd.
—Arkansas Online, 30 Jan. 2026
Council was in the dark Centralina is one of 16 regional councils of government in the state that assist with dispersing federal and state money into communities for economic development, social services and other community needs.
—Dan Kane
january 28, Charlotte Observer, 28 Jan. 2026
The lion had been seen traversing the city since at least Sunday and probably got lost while dispersing from its mother, the agency said.
—Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026
Some officers then deployed pepper balls, dispersing the crowd.
—Valerie Gonzalez, Twin Cities, 28 Jan. 2026
Local officials are deploying tear gear and dispersing the crowd near the scene of the shooting.
—Kyla Guilfoil, NBC news, 24 Jan. 2026
Jessica Ma, Dallas Morning News, 18 Feb. 2026
Videos shared online show the moments after the situation escalated, with groups of teens running and dispersing outside the building.
—Nicole Nielsen, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
Fit for purpose Next-gen designs could boost those gains by dispersing battery material around drone frames, electric motors, or other surfaces.
—IEEE Spectrum, 3 Feb. 2026
Some officers then deployed pepper balls, dispersing the crowd.
—Arkansas Online, 30 Jan. 2026
Council was in the dark Centralina is one of 16 regional councils of government in the state that assist with dispersing federal and state money into communities for economic development, social services and other community needs.
—Dan Kane
january 28, Charlotte Observer, 28 Jan. 2026
The lion had been seen traversing the city since at least Sunday and probably got lost while dispersing from its mother, the agency said.
—Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026
Some officers then deployed pepper balls, dispersing the crowd.
—Valerie Gonzalez, Twin Cities, 28 Jan. 2026
Local officials are deploying tear gear and dispersing the crowd near the scene of the shooting.
—Kyla Guilfoil, NBC news, 24 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dispersing
Verb
-
The Charlotte Hornets’ recent positive momentum is dissipating, some might say understandably so.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Novelty because there is forever an old trend dissipating and a new one materializing.—
Scott Hocker,
TheWeek,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Thunder claps rumbled like explosions, shook homes and sent animals scattering for safe cover.—
Rick Hurd,
Mercury News,
17 Feb. 2026
-
After last year’s Eaton fire tore through town, incinerating community infrastructure and scattering residents across the region, the importance of such places has grown dramatically — not only as centers of gathering, but as sites of refuge, planning and healing.—
Sam Lubell,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The plant produces Circulose—a dissolving pulp made from 100 percent discarded cotton textiles—designed to integrate into existing textile supply chains and move circular solutions beyond the pilot phase into sustained industrial production.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
17 Feb. 2026
-
The plant cell wall protects the carbs from dissolving in water.—
Michaeleen Doucleff,
NPR,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
That doesn’t mean the drama is disappearing completely.—
Annie Blay-Tettey,
Allure,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Sometimes, these platforms use disappearing messages.—
Natalie Eilbert,
jsonline.com,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
These earlier massacres also made the SDF hesitant about completely disbanding immediately, as Sharaa continues to demand.—
Paul Iddon,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
-
The Bruins played in the American Basketball League through the 1930-31 season before disbanding, then were revived for the National Basketball League.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
While the era of easy, equity-like returns is fading as the asset class matures and competition intensifies, private credit’s growth phase is not over just yet, said PitchBook analyst Kyle Walters.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
24 Feb. 2026
-
The foothills in the distance become burnished in the golden hour’s fading light.—
Audrey T. Williams,
Mercury News,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dispersing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dispersing. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
