indispose
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to make ill, especially slightly.
-
to put out of the proper condition for something; make unfit.
The long tennis match indisposed me for any further physical activity that day.
-
to render averse or unwilling; disincline.
His anger indisposed him from helping.
verb
-
to make unwilling or opposed; disincline
-
to cause to feel ill
-
to make unfit (for something or to do something)
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of indispose
First recorded in 1650–60; back formation from indisposed
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
We are now," returned the other, "quartered among friends, to whom we ought to be not only punctual but liberal, lest we indispose them to the service.
From The Loyalists, Vol. 1-3 An Historical Novel by Jane West
Indeed, at or near this time there were three particular occurrences which, when taken together, might well disturb the serenity and cheerfulness of her mind, and indispose her for writing—especially writing of a humorous character.
From Jane Austen, Her Life and Letters A Family Record by William Austen-Leigh
The religion of Sully also tended to indispose the Queen towards him.
From The Life of Marie de Medicis — Volume 2 by Julia Pardoe
A little more sadness than is within bounds will also indispose us for this duty.
From The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning by Hugh Binning
I haven't signed it, as my unmeaning name would perhaps indispose the fellow to see much good in it.
From Born in Exile by George Gissing
Entertaining down to the last minute, the Bastille Opera finally opened its season with a sad-faced functionary who stepped in front of the curtain to tell us that the “Simone Boccanegra” baritone was indisposed.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 7, 2026
Watts so impressed Bernstein that the conductor chose him to replace an indisposed Glenn Gould and play the Liszt concerto twice at Philharmonic Hall a few weeks later.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 14, 2023
The Pittsburgh Steelers went into Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders with an indisposed defense and left with the squad in worse shape, but it appears that there’s hope.
From Fox News ● Sep. 21, 2021
Even the queen actually ends up as the heartsore queen consort, married to the mad George III, who is indisposed for the series.
From Salon ● Jan. 30, 2021
He looked indisposed — to see Sackville-Bagginses at any rate; and he stood up, fidgeting with something in his pocket.
From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien
Wherefore we should never suffer them to be dissolved into levity, or disordered into a wanton frame, indisposing us for religious thoughts and actions.
From Sermons on Evil-Speaking by Isaac Barrow
Ah me, that a man be self-subsistent, original, true, or what we call it, is surely the farthest in the world from indisposing him to reverence and believe other men's truth!
From On Heroes and Hero Worship and the Heroic in History by Thomas Carlyle
The theological romanticism of Lacordaire and of Montalembert was not much more appreciated by them, the dogmatic ignorance and the very weak reasoning powers of this school indisposing them against it.
From Recollections of My Youth by Ernest Renan
Four motives appear to me to have been puissant in indisposing Englishmen to the Northerners.
From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 17, No. 100, February, 1866 by Various
Ah! 'twas a lovely world!—no more I met that indisposing bore, The unseraphic cynogogue— The man who's proud to love a dog.
From Black Beetles in Amber by Ambrose Bierce
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
