disperse

[dih-spurs] / dɪˈspɜrs /

VERB

distribute; scatter

Synonyms

STRONGEST

break up circulate diffuse disappear disband discharge dislodge dispel dissipate dissolve scatter separate spray spread vanish

STRONG

banish besprinkle broadcast deal disburse dismiss disseminate eject intersperse partition propagate radiate rout scramble shed sow strew

WEAK

cast forth divvy dole out measure out send off split up take off in all directions

Antonyms

STRONGEST

accumulate appear arrive collect gather marry unite

STRONG

hide hold keep welcome

WEAK

arrange assemble garner

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

AFP journalists saw several people arrested by police, who also fired tear gas to disperse the growing crowds.

From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026

Typically, winds in the upper atmosphere can weaken or disperse gravity waves before they reach such heights.

From Science Daily • Jun. 3, 2026

When he arrived at around 8:30 a.m., a police officer was on a megaphone announcing that the shop wouldn’t be opening, that no watches would be sold, and requesting that the crowd disperse.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026

In a statement on Thursday, a gardaí spokesperson said the force was "moving to an enforcement phase" unless those blocking access to critical infrastructure "desist and disperse".

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

Unlike all the other pillars of smoke issuing from the city’s smokestacks, this pillar didn’t disperse into the general smog.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides

Vocabulary lists containing disperse

Fahrenheit 451

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