What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
dispersing
Example
The wind was dispersing the smoke from the fire. [dispersing: verb]
Example
The police used tear gas to disperse the protesters. [disperse: verb]
diffuse
Example
The sunlight was diffuse through the clouds. [diffuse: adjective]
Example
The scent of the flowers was diffuse throughout the room. [diffuse: adjective]
Example
The speaker's message was difficult to understand because he tended to diffuse his ideas. [diffuse: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Diffuse is more commonly used than dispersing in everyday language. Diffuse is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while dispersing is less common and tends to be used in more specific physical contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between dispersing and diffuse?
Both dispersing and diffuse can be used in formal and informal contexts, but diffuse may be slightly more formal due to its versatility and ability to describe both physical and abstract concepts.
