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

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

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

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 There are seven bedrooms and six full bathrooms dispersed throughout, with additional spaces including a billiards room with a bar, a cozy reading nook, and a sun porch with wraparound windows. — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2026 In contrast, peregrine falcons that breed in Alaska migrate almost directly south, dispersing across the Americas to wintering grounds that extend as far as southern South America. — Amy L. Scarpignato, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2026 Because of the aphids’ fast reproduction and ability to disperse quickly to other plants, Crumbley recommends focusing on reducing the pest’s harborage sites as opposed to introducing marigolds or other companion plants in the fall. — Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 16 Oct. 2026 Israeli troops later arrived in Abu Falah and drove up to the village after dispersing the crowd in the olive groves. — Sam Metz, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for disperse

Recent Examples of Synonyms for disperse

Verb

Experts said some of the tension – particularly on issues related to diesel, with Trump blaming Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries for soaring prices rather than the Iran war – may dissipate after the US midterms.

— Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
Their grip on song structure has loosened with each record and, by their most recent, 2024’s Exotic Birds of Prey, nearly dissipated altogether.

— Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of dissipate

Verb

A lot of the drag in modern organizations comes from context scattered across project tracking, documentation, email and messaging, code repositories and domain-specific tools.

— Joel Burleson-Davis, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Respondents' outlook for the three-month yen target was more scattered, ranging from 150 to 160.

— Lisa Kim, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of scatter

Verb

The task force became a magnet of congressional Republican criticism during the Biden investigation and was disbanded in February 2025 by then-Atty.

— Eric Tucker, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Mamdani pledged to disband a controversial NYPD unit, the Strategic Response Group, end the use of the gang database and implement a Department of Community Safety, which is currently operating as an office.

— Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of disband

Verb

To shoppers, the chain disappears, until next September or so, when another store pops up somewhere in the neighborhood.

— Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
Two experienced military observers described a silent craft that performed abrupt maneuvers before disappearing.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of disappear

Verb

Eventually, committee members discussed dissolving the committee or resigning from the board if Zuckerberg wouldn’t make concessions for the benefit of all Class A shareholders.

— Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
The 2026 Best of Beauty Award winner combines gentle lactic acid with the brand's Tri-Enzyme Technology (papain, protease, subtilisin) to dissolve dead skin cells without disrupting the moisture barrier.

— Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of dissolve

Verb

Brown, though, didn't quite let perception fade away a couple of days later.

— CBS News, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026
The question now is whether shoppers counting every dollar will keep paying for products like cashmere-soft diapers once the novelty fades and if inflation keeps biting.

— Phil Wahba, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of fade

Browse Nearby Words

dispersals

disperse

dispersed

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Style

“Disperse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disperse. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of disperse

verb

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