DISPERSE Synonyms: 48 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'disperse' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of disperse are dispel , dissipate , and scatter . While all these words mean "to cause to separate or break up," disperse implies a wider separation and a complete breaking up of a mass or group. // police dispersed the crowd

Q: When can 'dispel' be used instead of 'disperse'?

Although the words dispel and disperse have much in common, dispel stresses a driving away or getting rid of as if by scattering. // an authoritative statement that dispelled all doubt

Q: When could 'dissipate' be used to replace 'disperse'?

The meanings of dissipate and disperse largely overlap; however, dissipate stresses complete disintegration or dissolution and final disappearance. // the fog was dissipated by the morning sun

Q: When would 'scatter' be a good substitute for 'disperse'?

The words scatter and disperse can be used in similar contexts, but scatter implies a force that drives parts or units irregularly in many directions. // the bowling ball scattered the pins

disperse

verb

di-ˈspərs

Definition of disperse next

as in to dissipate

to go off in different directions and cease to exist as a body or unified whole the crowd dispersed once the show ended

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to scatter

to cause (members of a group) to move widely apart the family of the missing woman dispersed searchers to all corners of the national park

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to disband

to cease to exist or cause to cease to exist as a group or organization the campaign staff dispersed almost immediately after the election

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb disperse differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of disperse are dispel, dissipate, and scatter. While all these words mean "to cause to separate or break up," disperse implies a wider separation and a complete breaking up of a mass or group.

police dispersed the crowd

When can dispel be used instead of disperse?

Although the words dispel and disperse have much in common, dispel stresses a driving away or getting rid of as if by scattering.

an authoritative statement that dispelled all doubt

When could dissipate be used to replace disperse?

The meanings of dissipate and disperse largely overlap; however, dissipate stresses complete disintegration or dissolution and final disappearance.

the fog was dissipated by the morning sun

When would scatter be a good substitute for disperse?

The words scatter and disperse can be used in similar contexts, but scatter implies a force that drives parts or units irregularly in many directions.

the bowling ball scattered the pins

Examples 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 disperse Given how widely dispersed the federal workforce is across the country’s 435 congressional districts, the prospect of putting any one district’s federal employees out of work would likely face opposition from that district’s representatives in Congress. —

Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 27 Nov. 2024 On Tuesday, police conducted a raid to disperse the demonstrators. —

Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2024 Advertisement The White House has dispersed more than $56 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the start of Russia’s February 2022 full invasion and expects to send billions more before President Biden leaves office. —

Lolita Baldor and Fatima Hussein, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2024 Police fired tear gas in a bid to disperse the crowds. —

Mushtaq Yusufzai, NBC News, 26 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for disperse

Recent Examples of Synonyms for disperse

Verb

To offset this possibility, the loaves are flipped upside down to cool, skewered through their lower circumferences on dowels and left to hang, bat-like, until the steam and heat, and their softening effects, have dissipated.

Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 15 Dec. 2024
Read the full Pisces Daily Horoscope Aries (March 21 - April 19) Tensions dissipating?

USA TODAY, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2024