1
as in dissipating
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 scattering
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 dissolving
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
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Recent Examples of dispersing
Officers deployed pepper spray and rubber bullets to repel the crowd; a smaller gathering of about 200 people assembled peacefully on Sunday before dispersing.
—
Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
As the bow and stern sections tore free from one another, the ship's contents were ejected and rained down across the ocean floor, dispersing everything from luggage and dinnerware to engine parts and personal belongings.
—Jordan Runtagh, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
Responding officers found a large group of people dispersing from the area of Mill Street and Chapel Street and were told by passersby that there had been a fight on Chapel Street and that someone had been shot.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 17 Apr. 2026
This prevents seeds from dispersing when a squirrel sits on the feeder.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 9 Apr. 2026
Yuval Tzur, who has attended weekly protests since the war began, told CNN that police began dispersing people in HaBima Square soon after the demonstration began.
—Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2026
In addition, unlike some carbon removal strategies that rely on transporting and dispersing large quantities of crushed rock, this method operates entirely on-site.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 31 Mar. 2026
Areas across the northeast side of Kodiak Island are likely to see between 6 and 10 inches of snow (again, particularly along the Gulf side of the island) until Monday night, with the heavy snow showers giving way to lighter snow overnight, dispersing by Tuesday morning.
—Amanda Greenwood, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
The glass rear panel is highly reflective, dispersing glare in all directions.
—Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 25 Mar. 2026
Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
As the bow and stern sections tore free from one another, the ship's contents were ejected and rained down across the ocean floor, dispersing everything from luggage and dinnerware to engine parts and personal belongings.
—Jordan Runtagh, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
Responding officers found a large group of people dispersing from the area of Mill Street and Chapel Street and were told by passersby that there had been a fight on Chapel Street and that someone had been shot.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 17 Apr. 2026
This prevents seeds from dispersing when a squirrel sits on the feeder.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 9 Apr. 2026
Yuval Tzur, who has attended weekly protests since the war began, told CNN that police began dispersing people in HaBima Square soon after the demonstration began.
—Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2026
In addition, unlike some carbon removal strategies that rely on transporting and dispersing large quantities of crushed rock, this method operates entirely on-site.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 31 Mar. 2026
Areas across the northeast side of Kodiak Island are likely to see between 6 and 10 inches of snow (again, particularly along the Gulf side of the island) until Monday night, with the heavy snow showers giving way to lighter snow overnight, dispersing by Tuesday morning.
—Amanda Greenwood, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
The glass rear panel is highly reflective, dispersing glare in all directions.
—Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 25 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dispersing
Verb
-
The crowd thinned as clouds of dust headed toward Brickell Avenue before dissipating, revealing a sunny, blue sky.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
13 Apr. 2026
-
At least, the tension between Jenna and Eddy is dissipating.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Use container groupings to build a garden room Instead of scattering single pots around the patio, group plants in clusters of varying heights.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Kansas City Star,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Build a Garden Room With Container Groupings One of the fastest ways to make a patio feel like a real garden is to stop scattering single pots around the perimeter.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Sacbee.com,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Instead of dissolving them with chemicals, Ecco and Spinnova mechanically turn these scraps into textile fibers.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Footwear News,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Clavicular allegedly injected teen with 'fat-dissolving' drug Six months after their first encounter, Mendoza allegedly ran into Clavicular while attending a networking event in Miami with friends, per court documents.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Pistons’ fall from grace starts with their disappearing offense.—
Tim Rohan,
NBC news,
28 Apr. 2026
-
As Kai Havertz trudged off the pitch in the 34th minute of Arsenal’s win against Newcastle United on Saturday, there may have been some within the Arsenal fanbase who viewed it as an allegory for their team’s title chances disappearing down the tunnel of yet another season.—
Jon Mackenzie,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Sequence became the first female hip-hop act to sign with Sugar Hill Records and released three albums before disbanding in 1985.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The group released seven studio albums between 1985 and 2011 before disbanding in 2014 after Spinks died of liver cancer, followed by Lewis’ death in 2020.—
Annie Harrigan,
Billboard,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Meanwhile, commercial-only business districts are fading.—
Caitlin McGlade,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Dust and pollen are quicker to reveal themselves, and wear becomes apparent faster as dark colors are more prone to fading.—
Marisa Suzanne Martin,
The Spruce,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dispersing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dispersing. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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