1
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
3
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
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 disperse
The gaming giants have given more than $40 million in the past year to a political action committee called Win for America, which then disperses the cash to affiliated, hyper-partisan super PACs that try to influence state races around the country.
—
Dan Bernstein,
Sportico.com,
30 June 2026
So the crowds on the course, estimated at about 45,000 earlier in the day, which was sunny and seasonably warm, began to disperse, urged to seek shelter and reminded their cars might be the safest place, though there was no re-entry allowed.
—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
29 June 2026
Hot conditions will persist across Texas, with highs near or above seasonal norms, but skies should gradually clear from south to north as the Saharan plume disperses.
—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
29 June 2026
Six bedrooms and ten bathrooms are dispersed throughout the house.
—
Demetrius Simms,
Robb Report,
29 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for disperse
Dan Bernstein,
Sportico.com,
30 June 2026
So the crowds on the course, estimated at about 45,000 earlier in the day, which was sunny and seasonably warm, began to disperse, urged to seek shelter and reminded their cars might be the safest place, though there was no re-entry allowed.
—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
29 June 2026
Hot conditions will persist across Texas, with highs near or above seasonal norms, but skies should gradually clear from south to north as the Saharan plume disperses.
—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
29 June 2026
Six bedrooms and ten bathrooms are dispersed throughout the house.
—
Demetrius Simms,
Robb Report,
29 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for disperse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disperse
Verb
-
Eventually the crowd dissipated, some to head to Arrowhead for the game itself, others to Fan Festival and still others to watch parties across the metro.
-
The song’s spacious production lets its piercing saxophone riffs dissipate into silence, only for borderline obnoxious horns to swirl them back into rhythm.
Verb
-
Unlike Chicago, San Francisco or Philadelphia, Charlotte doesn’t have a historic LGBTQ district, and its bars and businesses remain scattered across neighborhoods rather than concentrated in one area.
-
Little parts of your vestiges — politically — are gonna be scattered all over the state of Michigan, never to be seen again.
Verb
-
The city and a group of taxpayers for years squabbled in court over whether the government had the right to enter into a contract with the Friends, which ultimately disbanded before the zoo opened in Griffith Park in 1966.
-
This group, along with a number of others dedicated to examining and addressing inequities in the military, has been disbanded.
Verb
-
With Prime Day 2026 winding down, now is your last chance to upgrade your pet's sleep setup before the deals disappear.
-
If the collision occurs in Europe, a country like France will disappear completely from the map, and the entire continent will become an unimaginable disaster area.
Verb
-
Benning's cause of death was a fatal combination of a large amount of cocaine dissolved in alcohol, medical examiners testified during Taylor's trial.
-
Plagued by criticism and scandal, it was eventually dissolved by Congress and replaced by a new commission that decided to mostly fund community celebrations.
Verb
-
But rental business owners like Zhao observed that the rental prices have begun to slide as novelty surrounding these stunt-performing androids fades.
-
The combination of hyaluronic and azelaic acid does wonders to fade dark spots, soothe redness, and deeply hydrate.
Cite this Entry
“Disperse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disperse. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
