dispose

verb

di-ˈspōz How to pronounce dispose (audio)
Definition of disposenext
1
as in to situate
to arrange something in a certain spot or position looking for the perfect spot to dispose the new knickknack

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to classify
to put into a particular arrangement disposed the surgical instruments in the exact order in which they would be needed

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word dispose different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of dispose are bias, incline, and predispose. While all these words mean "to influence one to have or take an attitude toward something," dispose suggests an affecting of one's mood or temper so as to incline one toward something.

her nature disposes her to trust others

When might bias be a better fit than dispose?

The synonyms bias and dispose are sometimes interchangeable, but bias suggests a settled and predictable leaning in one direction and connotes unfair prejudice.

the experience biased him against foreigners

When can incline be used instead of dispose?

The words incline and dispose are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, incline implies a tendency to favor one of two or more actions or conclusions.

I incline to agree

Where would predispose be a reasonable alternative to dispose?

Although the words predispose and dispose have much in common, predispose implies the operation of a disposing influence well in advance of the opportunity to manifest itself.

does fictional violence predispose them to accept real violence?

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 dispose Most fans had taken care of their trash throughout the match, either putting it in the blue bag or already having disposed of it. — Chris Vannini, New York Times, 26 June 2026 Where is the line between laying the dead to rest and simply disposing of the body? — ArsTechnica, 25 June 2026 Never dispose of live charcoal on the ground. — Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 25 June 2026 Other food items were also held past their seven-day date marking, which were then disposed of. — Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 22 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for dispose
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dispose
  1. situate
  2. classify
  3. put
  4. arrange
  5. place
  6. organize
  7. locate
  8. order
Verb
  • On Tuesday, voters will decide whether to allow the city to partner with a private company to return the unique stadium situated on Virginia Key across the water from downtown Miami to its former glory.
    — David Fischer, Fortune, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Luwi was waiting outside the fence of the airport, which is situated in the center of Goroka, its runway stretching almost as long as the town itself.
    — Rachel Aviv, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of situate
Verb
  • Some are classified as electric motorcycles with the capacity to reach greater speeds than e-bikes can and the ability to cause a lot of damage if not safely operated, Obolenskiy said.
    — Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Aggressive plants have robust growth, can be native or nonnative, and are sometimes further classified as invasive.
    — Dr. Lauren Kurtz, Hartford Courant, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of classify
Verb
  • But others take issue with her premise the exercises are unnecessary, arguing that scaling them back puts US forces –– almost 30,000 of them stationed in South Korea and over 50,000 more in nearby Japan –– in a more dangerous situation.
    — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Paying it would inevitably put Meta Platforms in bankruptcy and perhaps put the company under state ownership.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of put
Verb
  • After retiring from working in 2019, Norris enjoyed growing and arranging flowers from her yard.
    — Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Nvidia, the $5 trillion AI infrastructure superstar, just arranged $500 billion in financing from Apollo, BlackRock, Goldman Sachs and other Wall Street firms to bankroll customer orders for its cutting-edge chips.
    — Matt Egan, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of arrange
Verb
  • Platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket allow people to place bets on the outcomes of real-world events.
    — Brady Halbleib, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Around the age of 10 I was enrolled in a community art class where, on the first day, we were instructed to sketch a bowl of fruit placed on a table in front of us.
    — Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of place
Verb
  • The two created The Beautiful Lives Project, a non-profit which has organized events all over the country, pairing sports teams with participants from the project.
    — Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The Teamsters have been enthusiastically endorsing the bill specifically because, while 40-something employers would be difficult to collectively bargain against, DSP workers would be much easier to organize once within Amazon.
    — Tiana Lowe Doescher, The Washington Examiner, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of organize
Verb
  • Arkansas Baptist College, a private, historically Black college located several blocks east of Little Rock's Central High School, is expanding its student housing with the acquisition of a La Quinta Inn in downtown Little Rock.
    — Dale Ellis, Arkansas Online, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Wyoming Whiskey is located in the small town of Kirby—and this is truly a small town, with only about 60 full-time residents based there.
    — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of locate
Verb
  • However, no other peer country separates the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine as the president has now ordered.
    — Amanda Seitz, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • He was ordered to remain in maximum-security detention pending trial.
    — Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of order

Phrases Containing dispose

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disposals
dispose
disposed
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Cite this Entry

“Dispose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dispose. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of dispose for Spanish Speakers

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