Definition of dispositionnext
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as in removal
the getting rid of whatever is unwanted or useless we'll have to find some means for the disposition of all of this junk

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word disposition distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of disposition are character, personality, temperament, and temper. While all these words mean "the dominant quality or qualities distinguishing a person or group," disposition implies customary moods and attitude toward the life around one.

a cheerful disposition

When is it sensible to use character instead of disposition?

While the synonyms character and disposition are close in meaning, character applies to the aggregate of moral qualities by which a person is judged apart from intelligence, competence, or special talents.

strength of character

When could personality be used to replace disposition?

The words personality and disposition are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, personality applies to an aggregate of qualities that distinguish one as a person.

a somber personality

When might temper be a better fit than disposition?

While in some cases nearly identical to disposition, temper implies the qualities acquired through experience that determine how a person or group meets difficulties or handles situations.

a resilient temper

When is temperament a more appropriate choice than disposition?

The words temperament and disposition can be used in similar contexts, but temperament implies a pattern of innate characteristics associated with one's specific physical and nervous organization.

an artistic temperament

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 disposition The couple’s cottage in the Muskoka Lakes region of Ontario, Canada, is listed as the place of final disposition. Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 9 Feb. 2026 Internal affairs investigations are sent to the police chief for final disposition. Matthew Cupelli, Cincinnati Enquirer, 9 Feb. 2026 Quenneville, who is in his first year with the Ducks, praised LaCombe’s disposition and saw his mild manner matter-of-factly, expressing confidence in his ability to handle the bright lights of the Olympic stage. Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 8 Feb. 2026 This is our standard disposition for first-time prostitution offenses. Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for disposition
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disposition
Noun
  • Shields’ job is to take this group of individuals and shape them into a single organism with its own character and temperament.
    David Lyman, Cincinnati Enquirer, 5 Feb. 2026
  • The prickly exchange went viral and prompted bipartisan criticism and questioning of her temperament.
    Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 4 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • This is because when people lose weight, the body’s natural inclination is to return to its previous weight – a phenomenon called metabolic adaptation.
    Amy J. Sheer, The Conversation, 5 Feb. 2026
  • The 11 satellites on board are flying to a mid-inclination orbit.
    Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • How activists reacted to the Pride flag removal at Stonewall.
    Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Godwin is well known in the space, having assisted law enforcement nationwide leading to the removal of hundreds of criminals from the streets.
    Max Goldbart, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The company described the sequence as a full-mode transition flight.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Its landing sequence was a feat of unconventional engineering.
    Ilya Ferapontov, Scientific American, 5 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • After Pratt’s sentencing, Foster and several of the victims said the copyrights issue was an important and overlooked part of his plea agreement and sentence.
    Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
  • In the month-long meeting, the council decided on a set of agreements to guide how the church would observe, teach, and practice its beliefs about the life of Jesus Christ.
    Lianna Norman, Florida Times-Union, 16 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Southern windows work for varieties that prefer full sun, and can work for part-sun-loving plants with the addition of sheer curtains or blinds to temper the light.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2026
  • He was also known for his fiery temper and once threw a chair during a home game against rival Purdue.
    CBS News, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • His agrarian aptitude makes the man eager to expand.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 15 Feb. 2026
  • At the same time, his expertise and aptitude have often elevated the Bulls slightly above expectation for their relatively modest rosters — and guided the development of players like Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu along the way.
    Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • These items can jam the disposal and damage it, and fats can solidify and clog the drain.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 2026
  • Investigators have reason to believe that dismemberment may have been involved in the disposal of Isadora’s body.
    Sarah Dahlberg, NBC news, 13 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Disposition.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disposition. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on disposition

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