dispose

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 If a bird carcass needs to be disposed of, the spokesperson said, people should follow IDPH’s guidelines available online that advise using disposable waterproof gloves, plastic bags, safety goggles, an N95 mask and a secure trash can. Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2025 Like in a typical Chapter 11, Hudson’s Bay will be examining its store fleet, payroll and other operations and assets to determine what should be kept or disposed. David Moin, WWD, 7 Mar. 2025 In that time, Riverside County inspectors also identified violations for elevated levels of flammable methane, improper signage and failure to conduct sufficient truck inspections to ensure hazardous wastes aren’t disposed at the site. Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2025 With the virus’ spread slowing, Trump officials at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) began exploring the costs of destroying or disposing of more than 160 million unused tests. Brian Bennett, TIME, 27 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dispose
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dispose
Verb
  • The Greenacres closure follows the relocation of the company’s full-scale chocolate factory, which was situated in the same building as the shop, back in 2022.
    Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Once the space craft has been hosed down and safely situated and secured, the Dragon capsule will be moved to the recovery platform, before the hatch will finally open and the astronauts can disembark.
    Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • More: Trump releases classified JFK files on assassination.
    Josh Meyer, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2025
  • He’s produced a number of hip-hop tunes, and Billboard often classifies his work as rap.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The person singing that song, as Marco put it the other day, is the song itself.
    Juan A. Ramírez, Vogue, 18 Mar. 2025
  • Some of those judges have ordered the Trump administration to put its plans on hold while legal proceedings move forward, sparking condemnations from the president's allies and threats of impeachment.
    Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 18 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Every morning, the monks gathered there, arranging themselves on the long stone benches, to discuss the matters of the day.
    Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 17 Mar. 2025
  • The institute once arranged for a Purim care package to be airdropped to a Jewish Coast Guard member 700 miles off the coast of Alaska, for example.
    Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 17 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • UConn received 38 votes in the poll, placing it an unofficial 30th in the rankings, behind Missouri Valley conference champion Drake, Arizona, UCLA, and UC San Diego. ESPN and CBS Sports both still have the Huskies as an eight-seed in their latest bracketology projections.
    Staff And Wire Reports, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2025
  • Online commerce offers buyers the ability to place purchases outside of the seller’s business hours.
    Sebastiaan Verhaar, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Incorporating a set of packing cubes can encourage you to pare down and organize your clothing based on the type of clothes or the day.
    Rylee Johnston, Travel + Leisure, 16 Mar. 2025
  • The exhibit and sale, organized by Pacific Palisades native Heidi Farkash, will feature more than 250 artworks donated by San Diego County artists and art collectors, including works by James Hubbell, Italo Scanga, Larry Groff, James Aitchison, Joe Garcia and more.
    Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • While only two of the six Massachusetts colleges targeted this week by the feds have campuses located in Boston, Tufts has additional facilities located in the Hub and Harvard is part of the city’s payment in lieu of taxes, or PILOT, program.
    Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 13 Mar. 2025
  • The property, which many say is ideal for housing, has been vacant for decades because although it’s located within Chula Vista’s city boundaries, its only road access is from the city of San Diego.
    David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • In one of the most dramatic scenes in the series, Kristine orders Natalia to clean the kitchen, and is later surprised when her cup of coffee tastes like cleaning fluid.
    Olivia B. Waxman, TIME, 18 Mar. 2025
  • The strikes conducted Saturday by the U.S. military against Ansar Allah targets marked the largest-scale operation ordered by Trump since beginning his second non-consecutive term in office in January.
    David Faris, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Dispose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dispose. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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