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 That precocious talent combines with her naturally confident disposition to create one fiery competitor. Ava Wallace, New York Times, 5 July 2026 Early hints that Will was an abusive husband appear to have a precedent in the snarling disposition of his father Edgar (Erroll Shand), whose kindness mostly is reserved for his dog. David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 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 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 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
  • In severe cases, particularly when other treatments have failed, a hysterectomy with or without removal of the ovaries may also be considered.
    Daryl Austin, USA Today, 7 July 2026
  • Refer to your owner’s manual for specific filter removal instructions.
    Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 6 July 2026
Noun
  • The Proof-of-Concept Well is intended to validate the complete deployment sequence using commercial-grade, non-nuclear equipment.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 8 July 2026
  • And the sequence started a wild end to the Dodgers’ first extra-innings game of the season.
    Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
Noun
  • Historians are in broad agreement that this year’s celebration has garnered far less attention than the bicentennial, marked in 1976, which generated blanket media coverage and widespread national excitement.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
  • The Fort Lauderdale City Commission voted to approve the mutual separation agreement between Williams and the city at Thursday evening’s commission meeting.
    Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 3 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
  • Properly handling fire pit ashes prevents accidental fires and ensures safe disposal or reuse for your home and garden.
    Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 4 July 2026
  • Toilets flush more often, disposals run nonstop and hoses stay on for hours to fill kiddie pools or rinse off the grill.
    Sharon Wu, USA Today, 4 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Disposition.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disposition. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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