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 Volunteers will pick up the debris, bag it and pile the bags so the Overland Park Parks and Recreation crews can pick up and properly dispose of the collected trash. Debra Skodack, Kansas City Star, 2 Apr. 2025 Each battleship has a handful of turrets and shield generators that look like the Eye of Sauron that must be disposed of before the Doom Slayer can commandeer the ship and take it down from the inside. Kazuma Hashimoto, Rolling Stone, 31 Mar. 2025 City employees disposed of the rest after 90 days of storage, per city policy. Ethan Varian, Mercury News, 31 Mar. 2025 If everybody knew how to dispose of vapes properly, at sites that can safely handle them, there could be a reduction in risk. Kevin Purdy, ArsTechnica, 31 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dispose
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dispose
Verb
  • Open a bag or two of cat litter into an open plastic container and situate it in high-humidity spaces.
    Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Apr. 2025
  • There are 11 private campsites situated across the property in a forest or meadow.
    Jenna Blough, Outside Online, 8 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies the Western Santa Cruz tortoises as critically endangered, estimating approximately 3,400 tortoises remained as of 2010.
    Ayana Archie, NPR, 9 Apr. 2025
  • The curriculum guides middle school students and teachers through building and evaluating computer vision models that can reliably classify fossil shark teeth.
    Christine Wusylko, The Conversation, 9 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Although the premium hospitality OVG Hospitality already provides in Las Vegas, Phoenix, London and Abu Dhabi resonated with the Lightning ownership, Granger said that a desire to put a local spin on Amalie’s food and beverage offerings helped win the bid.
    Jason Clinkscales, Sportico.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Quality control is highly inconsistent, and customer service can be…frustrating, to put it nicely.
    Francesca Krempa, StyleCaster, 10 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • But the human author was a sort of conductor: prompting, arranging, intervening.
    Anna Wiener, New Yorker, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Oz: On [Richard’s] birthday, Laura arranged for maybe a dozen Civil War reenactors to come galloping onto the set.
    Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 9 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The game introduces Knockout Mode, which places the 24 players in a series of six races that eliminates the slowest drivers until there’s one winner remaining.
    Jordan Moreau, Variety, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Fingerprints from Hurd's vehicle were collected and processed, placing Braxton inside her vehicle and residence.
    Audrey Conklin, FOXNews.com, 3 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Ortiz, one of Del Records’ artists, had been scheduled to perform at a concert organized by Pérez in the state of Aguascalientes, Mexico, when the promoter was sanctioned, FBI Special Agent Lauren Radke wrote in an affidavit filed in court.
    Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2025
  • That’s what white women should be doing: organizing within, learning, listening, resourcing women of color, and—crucially—getting out of the way.
    Ruhama Wolle, Glamour, 27 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • According to the team's website, Fordham crew teams train in the Long Island Sound, Eastchester Bay and Hutchinson River, as well as at the Harlem Yacht Club in City Island, located about four miles away from the school's campus.
    Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 6 Apr. 2025
  • The islands are located between Australia, South Africa and the Antarctic continent.
    Marina Pitofsky, USA Today, 6 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The Duke and Duchess of Windsor ordered pieces that were full of personality and wit.
    Hikmat Mohammed, Footwear News, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The shift comes after reports that the cuts were ordered by Jeremy Lewin, a close ally of Elon Musk, who now oversees USAID under Musk's Department of Government Efficiency.
    Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Apr. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dispose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dispose. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on dispose

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!