dole out

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb dole out differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of dole out are deal, dispense, distribute, and divide. While all these words mean "to give out, usually in shares, to each member of a group," dole out implies a carefully measured portion of something that is often in short supply.

doled out what little food there was

When is deal a more appropriate choice than dole out?

The words deal and dole out are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, deal emphasizes the allotment of something piece by piece.

deal out equipment and supplies

When might dispense be a better fit than dole out?

The words dispense and dole out can be used in similar contexts, but dispense suggests the giving of a carefully weighed or measured portion to each of a group according to due or need.

dispensed wisdom to the students

Where would distribute be a reasonable alternative to dole out?

While in some cases nearly identical to dole out, distribute implies an apportioning by separation of something into parts, units, or amounts.

distributed food to the needy

When would divide be a good substitute for dole out?

Although the words divide and dole out have much in common, divide stresses the separation of a whole into parts and implies that the parts are equal.

three charitable groups divided the proceeds

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 dole out Already, $245 million has already been awarded in contracts (much of it doled out to vendors who donated money to Gov. Ron DeSantis or the Republican Party of Florida, as reported by the Miami Herald). Victoria MacHado, Sun Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2025 On Friday, President Trump set a 39 percent levy on goods from the European nation, one of the highest tariffs yet to be doled out by the American government. Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 1 Aug. 2025 Kris Knoblauch doled out the five-on-five versus elites, favouring Ekholm in 2024-25 (5:44 per game, 57 percent Dangerous Fenwick, 50 percent goal share) over Darnell Nurse (4:41 per game, 56 percent Dangerous Fenwick) and Brett Kulak (4:32 per game, 58 percent). Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 30 July 2025 Ultimately, hundreds of awards are doled out ranging from Best of Category down through Double Gold, Gold, Silver and Bronze. Brad Japhe, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for dole out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dole out
Verb
  • But several experts told Newsweek that excluding people living in the country without legal status from the head count used to allocate congressional seats among the states and determine how federal funding is distributed would run afoul of the U.S. Constitution.
    Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Aug. 2025
  • Fremantle distributed the original across more than 170 territories, with Turkish viewers accessing it through Digiturk, Tabii, Turkcell TV+ and Puhu TV.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 13 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The feeders will dispense between four and six pounds of food for the carp four times a day, and commercial fishers contracted by the Minnesota DNR will fish the surrounding area Aug. 4-8, Sept. 2-5 and Sept. 30 to Oct. 3.
    Madeline Heim, jsonline.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Likewise, in Midwestern Enterprises, Inc. v. Stenehjem, the North Dakota Supreme Court addressed a telephone card vending machine that dispensed a two-minute telephone card, plus a chance to win up to $500 in cash for every dollar paid.
    Daniel Wallach, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Check out the full program for fall at the Academy Museum, with language provided by the museum, below.
    Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 6 Aug. 2025
  • The statement noted that Morgan Stanley had provided assessment to the exec board and Goldman Sachs the same to the supervisory board.
    Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 6 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The winning man will hand out the first rose and is immune from elimination, which will be determined by a group vote at the end of the week.
    EW.com, EW.com, 12 Aug. 2025
  • More awards will be handed out on Sept. 6 and 7 at the dual Creative Arts ceremonies and during the Primetime Emmys on Sept. 14.
    Caché McClay, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The final tally allocated 2,076 shares at $250 each, 173 shares at $2,500 each, 148 shares at $5,000 each and154 shares at $25,000 each, according to the filing.
    Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025
  • For the Western Slope’s water managers, low streamflows mean weekly calls and intense coordination to ensure the water that is available is allocated efficiently and with maximum benefit.
    Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 15 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • There may be more that unites the two groups than divides them.
    Alison Herman, Variety, 5 Aug. 2025
  • Control of Earth is now divided among five mega-corporations.
    Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Dole out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dole%20out. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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