Synonyms of dole out

dole out

verb

as in to distribute

to give out (something) to appropriate individuals

she doles out office supplies as if she were paying for them out of her own pocket

Synonyms & Similar Words

• distribute
• dispense
• provide
• deal (out)
• hand out
• divide
• allocate
• portion
• supply
• administer
• parcel (out)
• mete (out)
• donate
• assign
• prorate
• share (out)
• apportion
• measure (out)
• share
• furnish
• split
• contribute
• issue
• proportion
• spread
• lot
• dish out
• allot
• admeasure
• appropriate
• redistribute
• circulate
• divvy (up)
• disseminate
• set
• part
• ration
• disburse
• chip in
• allow
• bestow
• dollop (out)
• pledge
• scatter
• disperse
• reallocate
• reapportion

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• deprive (of)
• deny
• refuse
• reject
• withhold
• decline
• disallow
• misallocate
• begrudge
• stint
• pinch
• skimp
• niggle (out)

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb dole out differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of dole out are deal, dispense, distribute, and divide. While all these words mean "to give out, usually in shares, to each member of a group," dole out implies a carefully measured portion of something that is often in short supply.

doled out what little food there was

When is deal a more appropriate choice than dole out?

The words deal and dole out are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, deal emphasizes the allotment of something piece by piece.

deal out equipment and supplies

When might dispense be a better fit than dole out?

The words dispense and dole out can be used in similar contexts, 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

Where would distribute be a reasonable alternative to dole out?

While in some cases nearly identical to dole out, distribute implies an apportioning by separation of something into parts, units, or amounts.

distributed food to the needy

When would divide be a good substitute for dole out?

Although the words divide and dole out have much in common, divide stresses the separation of a whole into parts and implies that the parts are equal.

three charitable groups divided the proceeds

Examples of dole out in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Longer term, those digital IDs would form the basis for a system of universal basic income, in which everyone might be doled out installments of Worldcoin’s own cryptocurrency. —Allison Morrow, CNN, 13 Sep. 2024

Proposition 4 would dole out money to nearly 100 different programs. —Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial, The Mercury News, 13 Sep. 2024

Records show Frankel paid $2 million for the Lumber Lane house overlooking a vast nature preserve back in 2013 and then doled out an additional $650,000 for a neighboring property with a small home. —Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 11 Sep. 2024

While many of the awards doled out this weekend honor behind-the-scenes workers in fields like directing, editing, casting, costuming, and production designing, onscreen talent will also be recognized, with awards for reality and game show hosts and guest actors in comedy and drama series. —Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 8 Sep. 2024