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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word dispatch distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of dispatch are assassinate, execute, kill, murder, and slay. While all these words mean "to deprive of life," dispatch stresses quickness and directness in putting to death.

dispatched the sentry with one bullet

When might assassinate be a better fit than dispatch?

While the synonyms assassinate and dispatch are close in meaning, assassinate applies to deliberate killing openly or secretly often for political motives.

terrorists assassinated the Senator

When could execute be used to replace dispatch?

The synonyms execute and dispatch are sometimes interchangeable, but execute stresses putting to death as a legal penalty.

executed by lethal gas

Where would kill be a reasonable alternative to dispatch?

In some situations, the words kill and dispatch are roughly equivalent. However, kill merely states the fact of death caused by an agency in any manner.

killed in an accident
frost killed the plants

When is it sensible to use murder instead of dispatch?

The words murder and dispatch are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, murder specifically implies stealth and motive and premeditation and therefore full moral responsibility.

convicted of murdering a rival

When is slay a more appropriate choice than dispatch?

The meanings of slay and dispatch largely overlap; however, slay is a chiefly literary term implying deliberateness and violence but not necessarily motive.

slew thousands of the Philistines

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 dispatch
Verb
After being alerted to a distressed whale in the area by anglers, an NSRI vessel was dispatched to the scene. Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2025 The investigation began when Pekin police were dispatched to the scene and found Cheryl on the pavement by the passenger side of a vehicle in a private driveway, according to the affidavit, shared online by the Journal Star. Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
When officers arrived, according to dispatch, the suspect ran, leading to a brief chase. Jennifer Edwards Baker, Cincinnati Enquirer, 30 Aug. 2025 The Tennessean crafted a map showing where the traffic stops took place using data from an analysis of dispatch reports, which were census areas with high percentages of Hispanic or Latino residents. Liam Adams, The Tennessean, 29 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dispatch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dispatch
Verb
  • Jackson and his family plan to send details of the catch to the International Game Fish Association with the hopes of attaining world records in both the junior record for Atlantic halibut category as well as line class for all fish.
    Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
  • For the most detailed and accurate soil tests, send your samples to a soil lab.
    Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Over the past two months, Texans have used green ribbons with bows to commemorate the lives lost in the July 4 Hill Country flooding, which killed more than 100 people, including more than two dozen girls and counselors from Camp Mystic in Hunt.
    Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Jerry Jeudy makes far too much money to wreck possessions with two drops, one that killed a drive and another that resulted in a crushing interception.
    Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • There was huge outrage and debate at the time around the idea that the American president could assassinate an American citizen extrajudicially, in violation of his Constitutional rights.
    Carlo Versano, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
  • The series follows Agent 47, a contract killer who travels to different destinations across the world to assassinate targets.
    George Yang, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Colleyville Heritage defeated Richland 30-21 in a game halted early in the third quarter after a second lightning delay Friday at Mustang-Panther Stadium.
    Jordan Neal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Dryden also represented his country several times, most notably helping Team Canada defeat the Soviet Union in the 1972 Summit Series.
    Jesse Granger, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Trump has repeatedly denied writing the letter and sued the Wall Street Journal, which was first to report on the letter, for defamation.
    Nik Popli, Time, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Legal experts, however, broadly agree this would violate both the letter and spirit of the Constitution.
    Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Recovering data and messages had been key to their investigation and it was initially suggested that large amounts had been deleted.
    Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
  • The messages contained information only someone close to Lauryn would have known, throwing twist into the mystery.
    Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Acosta allowed it, and IMG destroyed them.
    Alec Lewis, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Later, Howard calls Matt and agrees to cut the sequence but also threatens to destroy him.
    Carson Blackwelder, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The series premiere ends, however, on a much softer note, as Robbie and Cliff run into the young Sam, the couple's son who was sleeping in the basement while his parents were murdered upstairs.
    Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Prosecutors allege Prowell murdered King, then stole the victim's vehicle, which was found more than a week later, several miles from Prowell's home.
    Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Dispatch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dispatch. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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