DISTRIBUTE Synonyms: 134 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'distribute' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of distribute are deal , dispense , divide , and dole out . While all these words mean "to give out, usually in shares, to each member of a group," distribute implies an apportioning by separation of something into parts, units, or amounts. // distributed food to the needy

Q: When can 'deal' be used instead of 'distribute'?

While the synonyms deal and distribute are close in meaning, deal emphasizes the allotment of something piece by piece. // deal out equipment and supplies

Q: In what contexts can 'dispense' take the place of 'distribute'?

The synonyms dispense and distribute are sometimes interchangeable, but dispense suggests the giving of a carefully weighed or measured portion to each of a group according to due or need. // dispensed wisdom to the students

Q: When is 'divide' a more appropriate choice than 'distribute'?

In some situations, the words divide and distribute are roughly equivalent. However, divide stresses the separation of a whole into parts and implies that the parts are equal. // three charitable groups divided the proceeds

Q: When could 'dole out' be used to replace 'distribute'?

While in some cases nearly identical to distribute , dole out implies a carefully measured portion of something that is often in short supply. // doled out what little food there was

distribute

verb

di-ˈstri-byüt

Definition of distribute

as in to classify

to arrange or assign according to type distribute the assignments according to seniority

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to allot

to give as a share or portion committed to distributing the school's limited scholarship money so that it benefits more students

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to dispense

to give out (something) to appropriate individuals distributed pamphlets on recycling to everyone in the neighborhood

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb distribute differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of distribute are deal, dispense, divide, and dole out. While all these words mean "to give out, usually in shares, to each member of a group," distribute implies an apportioning by separation of something into parts, units, or amounts.

distributed food to the needy

When can deal be used instead of distribute?

While the synonyms deal and distribute are close in meaning, deal emphasizes the allotment of something piece by piece.

deal out equipment and supplies

In what contexts can dispense take the place of distribute?

The synonyms dispense and distribute are sometimes interchangeable, but dispense suggests the giving of a carefully weighed or measured portion to each of a group according to due or need.

dispensed wisdom to the students

When is divide a more appropriate choice than distribute?

In some situations, the words divide and distribute are roughly equivalent. However, divide stresses the separation of a whole into parts and implies that the parts are equal.

three charitable groups divided the proceeds

When could dole out be used to replace distribute?

While in some cases nearly identical to distribute, dole out implies a carefully measured portion of something that is often in short supply.

doled out what little food there was

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 distribute Morris is a combo guard in the mold of BJ Davis, only maybe quicker, with a deadly shot and handles to get in the paint and distribute. — Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026 The lawsuit alleged that Kebert ate an Avocado Ranch Chicken Stacker at the Meadville Taco Bell on or around July 7, a meal that contained shredded lettuce distributed by Taylor Farms. — Finch Walker, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026 Steven Porter/The Boston Globe via Getty Images Harvard said the process of distributing funds is expected to take several months. — CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026 Nearly half of those cases were distributed to Walmart for its Marketside salad brand. — Erika Edwards, NBC news, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for distribute

Recent Examples of Synonyms for distribute

Verb

The blaze was quickly upgraded to a third-alarm fire, which is classified as a major emergency that requires a high level of response.

— Chelsea Hylton, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026
The ranking measures the most popular tracks classified as both Latin and rhythm, according to Billboard, with the melding of the styles encompassing pieces of other subgenres as well, including reggaeton and Latin hip-hop.

— Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of classify

Verb

For example, the original plan by the department’s consultant assumed that the park would have access to a sewer main and allotted about $76,000 for a routine sewer connection.

— Haley Parsley, Sacbee.com, 20 Aug. 2026
The first is the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) Acquisition Prize, which will allot $20,000 at each edition of the Armory Show toward acquisitions for the museum’s permanent collection and for the Green Family Foundation Caribbean Cultural Institute.

— Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of allot

Verb

Those sales were hit by federal legislation that requires pharmacies to dispense some high-cost Medicare drugs at capped prices, the retailer said.

— Anne D'Innocenzio, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2026
Narcan is administered nasally to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, and the device used to dispense it was found on a mattress in the apartment.

— Martha Ross, Mercury News, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of dispense

Verb

Pima County has for years ranked among the highest in the nation for the number of unidentified human remains, according to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs).

— Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
First, Foothill is ranked two leagues higher than Laguna Hills in the Orange County Football Conference.

— Dan Albano, Oc Register, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of rank

Verb

Some artists who do Bowl shows with the LA Phil or its sister symphony, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, run through something close to their normal set and require whoever is assigned to do the orchestrations to follow suit.

— Chris Willman, Variety, 24 Aug. 2026
Care coordinators – health professionals who help patients navigate the medical system – are often assigned to people diagnosed with cancer or other serious health issues, but they’re rarely made available to postpartum mothers, Griffen said.

— Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of assign

Verb

The Mayor and City Council of Baltimore are seeking to pause an order requiring it to provide records in lawsuit with Inspector General while the city appeals.

— Bridget Byrne, Baltimore Sun, 26 Aug. 2026
The explosions provide different interruptions, punctuating the moment as one of Keeley’s ideas plays out in real time.

— Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of provide

Verb

Because LLMs can’t reliably distinguish between content in an email sent by an untrusted party and user instructions entered directly into a prompt, the overly solicitous LLM faithfully follows them.

— Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 20 Aug. 2026
The dining room, meanwhile, is distinguished by an ornate coffered ceiling.

— Tori Latham, Robb Report, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of distinguish

Verb

That growth is likely to build as Jersey Mike's embraces more digital marketing initiatives, with the company already planning to allocate 20% of advertising dollars to digital channels over the next 12 to 18 months, Stump said.

— Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 24 Aug. 2026
The objective is to allocate capital where each dollar has the highest probability of creating long-term shareholder value.

— Robert Daugherty, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of allocate

Browse Nearby Words

distributary

distribute

distributed

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“Distribute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distribute. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of distribute

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