dispose

Synonym Chooser

How is the word dispose different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of dispose are bias, incline, and predispose. While all these words mean "to influence one to have or take an attitude toward something," dispose suggests an affecting of one's mood or temper so as to incline one toward something.

her nature disposes her to trust others

When might bias be a better fit than dispose?

The synonyms bias and dispose are sometimes interchangeable, but bias suggests a settled and predictable leaning in one direction and connotes unfair prejudice.

the experience biased him against foreigners

When can incline be used instead of dispose?

The words incline and dispose are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, incline implies a tendency to favor one of two or more actions or conclusions.

I incline to agree

Where would predispose be a reasonable alternative to dispose?

Although the words predispose and dispose have much in common, predispose implies the operation of a disposing influence well in advance of the opportunity to manifest itself.

does fictional violence predispose them to accept real violence?

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 dispose Randle then allegedly placed the child’s body in a suitcase and asked Britten to dispose of it. Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 12 June 2025 The outlet reported that the Chinese tourist was given the option of either paying more or disposing of some of her belongings inside the suitcase, which led to her screaming and yelling while lying on the floor. Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 11 June 2025 There’s an old adage in politics: presidents propose, but markets dispose. Phil De Luna, Forbes.com, 11 June 2025 According to the affidavit, the trio then disposed of the body in a dumpster. Chris Spargo, People.com, 10 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for dispose
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dispose
Verb
  • In 1966, Charles de Gaulle, the French President, pulled France out of NATO’s unified military command so that the country could develop its own nuclear deterrent, with the proverbial button situated in Paris, not Washington.
    Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
  • The northern lights are best viewed in the dark, so it's recommended to situate yourself away from light pollution.
    Skyler Caruso, People.com, 23 June 2025
Verb
  • This component classifies requests and forwards to the WAF just the ones needing inspection, such as dynamic content requests, and offloads the WAF by caching responses.
    Alexander Krizhanovsky, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
  • The shooting now classified as a-homicide was the third killing reported during a violent weekend in Kansas City, as temperatures soared above 90 degrees across the region.
    Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 22 June 2025
Verb
  • Performance reviews may require a personal touch, but AI can help HR leaders put together hiring managers’ or supervisors’ feedback into a proper framework.
    Julie Hoagland, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
  • Why put yourself in the position of being a foreigner in Trump’s America?
    Stephen Marche, The Atlantic, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • According to El País, Leyva traveled to the U.S. in April and tried to arrange meetings with high-profile Republicans including Florida U.S. Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
    Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 30 June 2025
  • Similar to a puzzle, the goal is for kids to arrange the strings in a way that fits within the board’s pattern.
    Laura Lu, Parents, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • Simply place the pad in the accompanying mini wash bag and pop it into the laundry.
    The Glamour editors, Glamour, 26 June 2025
  • Former Boston Celtics co-owner Jim Pallotta just placed his nearly 20-acre estate on the market there for $38 million, positioning it to become the town’s most expensive sale to date.
    Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 26 June 2025
Verb
  • Lucile Bluford Day in KC The Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated - Beta Omega Chapter is organizing events in honor of Bluford on Tuesday at the Kansas City Public Library.
    Ramal Nasim, Kansas City Star, 30 June 2025
  • Organizations that fund long-term capabilities, organize around value streams and empower cross-functional product teams consistently deliver results faster and with greater impact.
    Alex Adamopoulos, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • The soundstage will be located in a specific area of the studios, near the deep water tank.
    Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 29 June 2025
  • The Hunter Woods subdivision would be located near the $1 billion Microsoft data center that is going to be built there.
    Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2025
Verb
  • Some of those claims were dismissed by a judge in 2024, but the lawsuit was still ordered to move forward; in June, however, Lizzo filed an appeal aimed at shutting it down for good on the grounds that the dancers’ claims clashed with her First Amendment rights.
    Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 1 July 2025
  • The company has been ordering fireworks a year in advance, Marietta said.
    Tim Hrenchir, USA Today, 1 July 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dispose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dispose. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on dispose

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!