Synonyms of dole out

dole out

verb

as in to distribute

to give out (something) to appropriate individuals

she doles out office supplies as if she were paying for them out of her own pocket

Synonyms & Similar Words

• distribute
• dispense
• provide
• deal (out)
• hand out
• divide
• allocate
• portion
• supply
• administer
• parcel (out)
• mete (out)
• donate
• assign
• prorate
• share (out)
• apportion
• measure (out)
• share
• furnish
• split
• contribute
• issue
• proportion
• spread
• lot
• dish out
• allot
• admeasure
• appropriate
• redistribute
• circulate
• divvy (up)
• disseminate
• set
• part
• ration
• disburse
• chip in
• allow
• bestow
• dollop (out)
• pledge
• scatter
• disperse
• reallocate
• reapportion

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• deprive (of)
• deny
• refuse
• reject
• withhold
• decline
• disallow
• misallocate
• begrudge
• stint
• pinch
• skimp
• niggle (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

Examples of dole out in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And Butterworth, along with his uncannily simpatico director Sam Mendes, does expert work on the evisceration front, doling out tidbits of decades-old family resentments until just the right moments for the cutting open. —Greg Evans, Deadline, 29 Sep. 2024

One of her kids painted a teal pumpkin, and the family put it on the porch and doled out allergen-free items, like toys, as a candy alternative that anyone could put in their trick-or-treat bag. —Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 26 Sep. 2024

Relief workers doled out doses amid challenging circumstances, operating in brief, nine-hour windows of peace and against a backdrop of ongoing mass displacement. —Saima S. Iqbal, Scientific American, 26 Sep. 2024

The enhancements can increase damage to specific types of enemies, cause status effects like burns or confusion, dole out critical hits or automatically heal one of the brothers when his health gets lows. —Jordan Moreau, Variety, 10 Oct. 2024