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 fraught subject of the proper disposition of those human remains has taken on a new sensitivity — both for the prehistoric people’s Native American successors in Florida, and for the archaeologists and developers encountering them. Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026 That disposition compounded into the richest, most inventive society the world has ever seen. Anthony Scaramucci, Fortune, 28 June 2026 The disposition to that case was also not clear. Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 25 June 2026 But Calloway’s performance—her manic and sunny disposition, her inability to read the room, her insistence on over-enunciating the T’s in words like Latin and written—was something to behold. Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 23 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for disposition
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disposition
Noun
  • Frances Perkins was, by temperament, cool and aloof, even a bit boring.
    The New Yorker, New Yorker, 4 July 2026
  • The fastest way to narrow the field is Michigan State University’s chicken breed chart, which lays out climate tolerance, laying volume, temperament and size side by side.
    Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 30 June 2026
Noun
  • Serrano comes across as someone with no inclination to coddle elite students.
    Nate Anderson, ArsTechnica, 8 July 2026
  • But their former ubiquity suggests an age when Americans had the inclination and ability to read serious works of literature.
    Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026
Noun
  • Jim has been frustrated with Wells Fargo ever since its post-asset-cap-removal climb ran into a tough 2025 fourth-quarter earnings report in mid-January.
    Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 13 July 2026
  • The Shelby Cullom Davis Charitable Fund also offered to donate the $2 million to the district for maintenance and upkeep of the property, including the removal of invasive plants and clearing two other dirt roads.
    Sooji Nam, CBS News, 13 July 2026
Noun
  • That sequence would be remembered as one of the more famous, hilarious stretches in recent golf history, maybe even the core memory of Spieth’s ever-entertaining prime.
    Brody Miller, New York Times, 14 July 2026
  • The spacecraft skipped the burn after a Raptor engine shut down prematurely during the launch sequence.
    Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 14 July 2026
Noun
  • And ultimately both legislative chambers aligned behind including the requirement for the Department of Finance in the agreement with the governor.
    Naomi Taxay, Sacbee.com, 10 July 2026
  • It was approved by the City Council in January 2024, after some back-and-forth, as part of a new use agreement that gives the foundation access 50 days a year and allows the city the remainder of the scheduling.
    Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 10 July 2026
Noun
  • At the same time, the Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that rising customer interest in purchasing eyewear online could temper employment demand.
    Casey Mann, Arkansas Online, 1 July 2026
  • With the law and temper of the time going their way, would Republicans continue to care about funding these mini-colleges?
    Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026
Noun
  • King contrasted the country’s technological expertise with its moral aptitude.
    Dawn M. Turner, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • But his energy and aptitude on the boards looked to be in midseason form.
    Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 4 July 2026
Noun
  • Massachusetts has strong disposal resources already in place, but more residents should be aware of these resources and the easy options that are available for making sharps disposal simple and convenient.
    Irina Butler, Boston Herald, 10 July 2026
  • Alika Williams may also see playing time in the infield with Gelof out as another utility option at Kotsay’s disposal.
    Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 10 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Disposition.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disposition. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

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