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
Wolves have since returned to the state on their own, dispersing from packs in Oregon and spreading as far south as the southern end of the Sierra Nevada.
—
NPR, 26 Oct. 2025
While the initial version of the material was ineffective at dispersing radar waves, researchers enhanced its electromagnetic properties using a subtractive laser patterning process.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025
The incident occurred as demonstrators were dispersing near 801 James Madison Highway and crossing a business parking lot, according to the Culpeper Police Department.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Many others have also left quietly, dispersing across continents, carrying stories like mine.
—Sonny Alejandra, Time, 18 Sep. 2025
But the protoplanetary disks around these massive stars only last around 2 million years before dispersing — and that's not quite enough time to create gas giants.
—Stefanie Waldek, Space.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Whether the Supreme Court fires this blast or not, Republicans need to be aware that breaking up majority-minority districts, and dispersing those voters into neighboring districts to dilute their voting power, may well make those neighboring districts less safe for Republican incumbents.
—Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025
Rather than dispersing his massive collection, Tomlinson decided to relocate.
—Will McGough, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
There are already laws in Florida governing weather modification, which can include cloud seeding—the enhancement of precipitation by dispersing substances into clouds that encourage the formation of rain or snow.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 19 Mar. 2025
NPR, 26 Oct. 2025
While the initial version of the material was ineffective at dispersing radar waves, researchers enhanced its electromagnetic properties using a subtractive laser patterning process.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025
The incident occurred as demonstrators were dispersing near 801 James Madison Highway and crossing a business parking lot, according to the Culpeper Police Department.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Many others have also left quietly, dispersing across continents, carrying stories like mine.
—Sonny Alejandra, Time, 18 Sep. 2025
But the protoplanetary disks around these massive stars only last around 2 million years before dispersing — and that's not quite enough time to create gas giants.
—Stefanie Waldek, Space.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Whether the Supreme Court fires this blast or not, Republicans need to be aware that breaking up majority-minority districts, and dispersing those voters into neighboring districts to dilute their voting power, may well make those neighboring districts less safe for Republican incumbents.
—Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025
Rather than dispersing his massive collection, Tomlinson decided to relocate.
—Will McGough, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
There are already laws in Florida governing weather modification, which can include cloud seeding—the enhancement of precipitation by dispersing substances into clouds that encourage the formation of rain or snow.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 19 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dispersing
Verb
-
The system’s center is forecast to remain offshore of the Baja California Sur coast, dissipating by Saturday, according to the agency.—
Joe Edwards,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
-
On the forecast track, Priscilla is expected to remain offshore of the coast of Baja California Sur before dissipating.—
Gabe Hauari,
USA Today,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The group gathered at Sures’ home and vandalized it, leaving red handprints and caution tape on his garage door and scattering pamphlets on his front lawn.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Oct. 2025
-
The spectroscopic observations have shown that gravitational tidal forces from the white dwarf have torn it apart, scattering debris from the planetary body onto the surface of the white dwarf.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
That’s 14 years of dreaming, dissolving, romanticizing, escaping, and sometimes deceiving ourselves.—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
Refinery29,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Everyone is sorry about a life’s work dissolving through uncontrollable circumstances.—
Brian Hamilton,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Faye is both highly supportive yet frustrated by the distant Springsteen, who showers her with love before disappearing into his music.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
23 Oct. 2025
-
The three dugongs interact and almost seem to play together before disappearing from view, the footage shows.—
Aspen Pflughoeft,
Miami Herald,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Michael Schill, then president of Northwestern, was berated by congressional Republicans for brokering a compromise with pro-Palestinian protesters last year, disbanding their tent cities while preserving free speech.—
James Druckman,
Mercury News,
17 Oct. 2025
-
From there, Hansen and his bandmates determined the best course of action, and discussions even arose about disbanding the group, which had formed in 1976.—
Mark Gray,
PEOPLE,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Caos isn’t an easy listen, often fading into a bleary haze and not quite coherently fulfilling the implications of its concept.—
Jon Dolan,
Rolling Stone,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Imagine slowly losing the center of your vision, like a camera lens fading to fog.—
Pranjal Malewar,
New Atlas,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dispersing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dispersing. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share