Disperse
Disperse verb - To cause (members of a group) to move widely apart.
Usage example: the family of the missing woman dispersed searchers to all corners of the national park
Spread is a synonym for disperse in distribute topic. In some cases you can use "Spread" instead the word "Disperse" as a verb or a noun, when it comes to topics like scatter, move, disintegrate, disseminate. popular alternative
Spread
Spread verb - To cause to be known over a considerable area or by many people.
Usage example: spread the news!
Disperse is a synonym for spread in scatter topic. You can use "Disperse" instead a verb "Spread", if it concerns topics such as move, disintegrate, distribute, dissipate. popular alternative
Mutual synonyms
Common collocations
Both words in one sentence
-
In Batman: Arkham Knight, Poison Ivy collapses in Batman's arms after using the last of her strength to disperse Scarecrow's fear gas spread by the Cloudburst.
Source: Died in Your Arms Tonight -
I Am Not Left-Handed: The Time Limit mission provides us with one as the player can't accelerate very hard at first, lest you detonate the sensitive ordnance you are carrying to disperse the poison gas that was spread on the city.
Cite this Source
Spread and Disperse. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/disperse/spread
Disperse & Spread. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/disperse/spread>.
Spread or Disperse. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/disperse/spread.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "disperse" and "spread" have occurred on timeline