1
as in dissipates
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
2
as in scatters
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 disbands
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of disperses
In a video posted on the organization’s site, which was verified by NBC News, a crowd disperses quickly as multiple gunshots ring out and a handful of men return to pick up a man bleeding from a head wound.
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Henry Austin, NBC news, 7 Jan. 2026
The most satisfying moments come when all the chaotic ephemera disperses to make space for shimmering, ambient chords.
—H.d. Angel, Pitchfork, 7 Jan. 2026
This filter-free design disperses a steady stream of humidifying cool vapor for a full 24 hours.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 1 Jan. 2026
Taylor believed some of the biggest impact could come to the city’s Neighborhood Tourist Development fund, which disperses 10% of funds from the convention and tourism tax to nonprofits to host events, promoting tourism.
—Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 23 Dec. 2025
The electric current disperses rapidly through the surrounding medium, causing a voltage gradient that drops sharply with distance.
—IEEE Spectrum, 18 Dec. 2025
Chemical sunscreens — such as avobenzone, oxybenzone, octocrylene, ecamsule, homosalate, octisalate and octinoxate — bind to the top layer of skin and transform UV rays into heat that disperses.
—Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 11 Dec. 2025
As the party disperses, five ravers—Jade, Tonin, Bigui, Stef, and Josh (Joshua Liam Henderson)—break off and speed away, headed toward that other rave.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 14 Nov. 2025
This later disperses heat and is formulated with additional cooling gel compared to standard foams, while gently cushioning pressure points.
—Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 11 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disperses
Verb
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Why Light Distance Matters Like sound, light intensity dissipates or gets weaker farther from the source.—
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The vapor dissipates rather fast, and does not really allow for an effective way of deterring many pests.—
Verb
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Everyone scatters — Zoë, Dinah, and Sarah are okay, while Malik is more compromised.—
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Here, laser light is shone onto body tissues and the unique pattern of light that scatters back is analyzed, similar to how different materials reflect light in distinctive ways.—
Verb
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And once the dog is found, the Search Party network disbands.—
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DiCaprio plays Bob, a revolutionary in hiding with his teen daughter (Chase Infiniti) after his activist group the French 75 disbands in chaos.—
Verb
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If the money's not coming in, the money disappears.—
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Anna disappears after her daughter’s death, essentially ghosting her life—including her job as a news anchor in Atlanta.—
Verb
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The short answer is that toothpaste contains a detergent that dissolves fat.—
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Its acidity effectively breaks down grease, eliminates mold, neutralizes odors, and dissolves mineral deposits.—
Verb
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The California Association of Realtors also predicts that, as economic uncertainty fades and rates begin to decline more steadily, the housing market should improve throughout 2026.—
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Humans have been chewing gum for thousands of years, long after the flavor fades and without any clear nutritional benefit.—
Cite this Entry
“Disperses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disperses. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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