dispersed

Definition of dispersednext
past tense of disperse
1
as in dissipated
to go off in different directions and cease to exist as a body or unified whole the crowd dispersed once the show ended

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2
3
as in disbanded
to cease to exist or cause to cease to exist as a group or organization the campaign staff dispersed almost immediately after the election

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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 dispersed At the State Department, former officials said, Iran specialists at the counterterrorism bureau were dispersed to regional offices where counterterrorism is one of many priorities. Hannah Allam, ProPublica, 21 Apr. 2026 The crowd finally dispersed, but protests continued for five more days. Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 21 Apr. 2026 As the crowd dispersed, a reporter from the Yale Daily News bounced up the stairs, notepad in hand. Erin Vanderhoof, Vanity Fair, 21 Apr. 2026 Monitoring showed that radionuclides such as cesium spread through coastal waters but became diluted and dispersed over time, with levels in most areas farther out in the ocean decreasing and remaining low and relatively stable after the initial release. Eduardo B. Farfán, The Conversation, 21 Apr. 2026 Chicago police told Fox News Digital that once officers responded to the scene early Sunday morning, the group dispersed. Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2026 The group dispersed after about two hours. Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 20 Apr. 2026 Bees and other animals quickly dispersed the plant’s pollen, speeding its proliferation far beyond backyard gardens. Erika Ebsworth-Goold, Midwest Living, 20 Apr. 2026 City officials placed some residents in permanent housing, but others were given vouchers and dispersed throughout San Jose. Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dispersed
Verb
  • Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi churned through phone calls with counterparts in Egypt, France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey this weekend – after regional hopes of further US-Iran talks dissipated.
    Max Saltman, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2026
  • Compared to the past two years data was collected, algae blooms dissipated quicker.
    Jacob Wycoff, CBS News, 25 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Keep your pace simple and intentional so nothing gets scattered.
    Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 27 Apr. 2026
  • In practice, it is scattered, inconsistently formatted, and largely inaccessible.
    Jessica Binns, Vogue, 27 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • After the Ronettes disbanded, Ross continued to release music solo.
    Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 27 Apr. 2026
  • The group, however, eventually disbanded because many of its members enlisted in the Union Army.
    Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 27 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The late Queen herself once recognized the positive effect Harry and Meghan could have across the Commonwealth—and supporters say their influence has not disappeared.
    Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Since the 1970s more than a third of the world’s wetlands have disappeared, largely due to climate change and urbanization, at a rate that is three times faster than forest loss.
    Paige Bruton, semafor.com, 27 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma could be dissolved and replaced by a company focused on the public good by the end of the week, as a massive legal settlement resolving thousands of lawsuits is set to take effect.
    Geoff Mulvihill, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
  • The team focused on hydrometallurgical recycling, in which battery metals are dissolved into a liquid and later separated for reuse.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 27 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • With time, with therapy, with growth, this thing has faded into the past, dissolved into other narratives.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Interest in the discussion faded later in James' career.
    Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Dispersed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dispersed. Accessed 1 May. 2026.

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