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 Leslie Hairston, a former City Council colleague of Preckwinkle’s whose South Side ward abutted hers, said Preckwinkle’s scholarly disposition shouldn’t be mistaken for indifference. A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026 Another example of the voluntary nature of her disposition. Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026 But the disposition of the Roberts case shows that the state does have tools and even the willpower to protect animals. Wendy Keefover, Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2026 But white settlers found their stubborn dispositions too unruly for domestication and their big bodies too tempting a commodity. Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 5 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for disposition
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disposition
Noun
  • The Singapore Sling and the Million Dollar Cocktail are sisters who share the same DNA and many of the same qualities but possess quite different temperaments and have gone on to enjoy different lives.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Mar. 2026
  • Right from his beginnings with the Talking Heads, Byrne’s quizzical temperament has fueled a determination both to never resist change and to remain open to all kinds of external stimuli.
    Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • If conservatism is something of an inclination or disposition, leftism of the more radical sort is a form of all-consuming identity, one that fills vacuums in otherwise empty lives and comprehensively guides behavior.
    Bradley Gitz, Arkansas Online, 23 Mar. 2026
  • The 11 satellites on board are flying to a mid-inclination orbit.
    Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • In both cases, no explanation was given for their removal.
    Tom Bowman, NPR, 27 Mar. 2026
  • The fourth program, Shoreline’s Community Care employment program, hires individuals on the street to do jobs like street cleaning, sidewalk sweeping, graffiti removal, landscaping, trash removal, and custodial and janitorial work.
    Reyna Huff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Editor Danielius Kokanauskis cuts these sequences with Swiss-clock precision, mirroring the cruel precision of Soviet bureaucracy.
    Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
  • While Sturm sat Lohrei for the next power play after a similar situation in the loss to Toronto, and could have reasonably benched him after that horrendous sequence, Sturm did put him back on the ice.
    Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • As members of Biden’s team briefed the incoming secretary of state on the agreement, most expected the zealous Republican to squash the deal as too soft on Cuba’s authoritarian government, according to two people familiar with the meeting.
    Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
  • As per the agreement, the construction at the sites is expected to be completed by 2030.
    Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 24 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Scorpio October 23 – November 21 When tempers rise, truth deserves steady handling.
    Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 24 Mar. 2026
  • October 23 – November 21 When tempers rise, truth deserves steady handling.
    Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 24 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Flutie played beyond his physical abilities partly because of his aptitude.
    Dan Pompei, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
  • What Godoy does have a great aptitude for, however, is video games.
    Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Resources are at your disposal when Mars teams up with Jupiter.
    USA TODAY, USA Today, 21 Mar. 2026
  • For the first time in his season-plus at the helm, Lee’s full roster is at his disposal.
    Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 18 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Disposition.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disposition. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.

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