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 Every Sunday, Avenida Paulista closes to cars and becomes a pedestrian boulevard with musicians performing on street corners and food vendors doling out fresh sugarcane juice. AFAR Media, 17 Oct. 2025 This one does things a bit differently, though, being of the non-aerosol variety and instead doling out its magic in powder form. Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2025 Roughly one-third of cities’ revenue comes from federal grants to states that are then doled out to cities. Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2025 This isn’t just a quirky uncle at Thanksgiving doling out wacky advice. Flavia Mangan Colgan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dole out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dole out
Verb
  • The affected chicken products were distributed nationwide to food service locations.
    Amber Brenza, Health, 27 Oct. 2025
  • The food bank and its over 400 community partners around the state, who rely almost entirely on donations from Idaho companies and residents to distribute food, serve hundreds of thousands of the state’s residents each month.
    Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • In-use food dispensing utensils not properly stored (falafel scooper stored in container of water on counter).
    Gege Reed, Louisville Courier Journal, 24 Oct. 2025
  • But suburban newspapers, which dispense local business and social news by and large, offer far less hope for a revitalized press than metropolitan dailies.
    David Wingrave, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Target leans back towards DEI Target last week highlighted its partnership with the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs that provides education and other services to Black founders of small businesses.
    Diane Brady, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Upcycling solid wastes This technique provides a versatile, scalable, and efficient strategy for upcycling solid wastes into high-performance materials for environmental and energy catalysis, as per the study.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The inaugural Adriatic Film & TV Awards (AFA Awards) have been handed out to honor the region’s best achievements in film and television, with Croatian Oscar contender Fiume o morte!
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2025
  • The Lord of Karma doesn’t allow shortcuts or hand out easy rewards; its wisdom is sacred and earned through experience.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The federal government, however, had allocated dollars for October SNAP benefits in September ahead of the funding lapse.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 29 Oct. 2025
  • The state of Missouri will impose a 10% tax on sports betting, with the first $5 million allocated to a fund intended to help prevent compulsive gambling, according to ballot language.
    Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Senate Republicans are trying to divide Democrats on Thursday with a vote that would pay government workers deemed essential who are working without pay during the shutdown.
    Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2025
  • In the trailer, Whitney drops the bomb that she is set to start her own MomTok, as the group continues to be divided.
    Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 22 Oct. 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 29 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on dole out

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