indispose
Americanverb (used with object)
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to make ill, especially slightly.
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to put out of the proper condition for something; make unfit.
The long tennis match indisposed me for any further physical activity that day.
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to render averse or unwilling; disincline.
His anger indisposed him from helping.
verb
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to make unwilling or opposed; disincline
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to cause to feel ill
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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:
All his jealousy is actively alive to the smallest shade of fault, although his feelings so much indispose him to see any blemish.
From Autobiography of a Pocket-Handkerchief by James Fenimore Cooper
This reflection tended to repress the inclination he would otherwise have felt for cultivating her society, but it did not indispose him to benefit her in a certain way.
From Ormond, Volume II (of 3) or, The Secret Witness by Charles Brockden Brown
Years and infirmities may indispose him to enter on a mighty war; but he thinks more of his dynasty than of himself, his ambition being to found a reigning house.
From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 18, No. 109, November, 1866 by Various
Such a proceeding would, he was convinced, by no means disincline others in different circumstances to accept hereditary titles, nor indispose the ministry to confer them.
From The Constitutional History of England from 1760 to 1860 by Charles Duke Yonge
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
When she arrives at their imposing Vermont mansion to go through Verity’s notes, Lowen discovers that Verity’s a vegetable: completely physically and mentally indisposed after a car accident.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
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
Austin will transfer authority to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks while he is indisposed, the Pentagon said.
From Seattle Times ● May 24, 2024
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
The Gran had been called away to another town, the Uncle indisposed, just like they had been during the impossible task in 1965.
From "Witchlings" by Claribel A. Ortega
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
She says she loves to see me gay and cheerful, as is natural at my age, but that levity quite upsets and disorders the mind, indisposing it for serious thoughts.
From Stepping Heavenward by E. (Elizabeth) Prentiss
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
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! '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
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