DISPEL Synonyms: 27 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'dispel' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of dispel are disperse , dissipate , and scatter . While all these words mean "to cause to separate or break up," dispel stresses a driving away or getting rid of as if by scattering. // an authoritative statement that dispelled all doubt

Q: When would 'disperse' be a good substitute for 'dispel'?

While in some cases nearly identical to dispel , disperse implies a wider separation and a complete breaking up of a mass or group. // police dispersed the crowd

Q: When could 'dissipate' be used to replace 'dispel'?

The words dissipate and dispel can be used in similar contexts, but dissipate stresses complete disintegration or dissolution and final disappearance. // the fog was dissipated by the morning sun

Q: When might 'scatter' be a better fit than 'dispel'?

The meanings of scatter and dispel largely overlap; however, scatter implies a force that drives parts or units irregularly in many directions. // the bowling ball scattered the pins

dispel

verb

di-ˈspel

Definition of dispel next

as in to disperse

to cause (members of a group) to move widely apart the sudden downpour dispelled the throng of street revelers

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How does the verb dispel differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of dispel are disperse, dissipate, and scatter. While all these words mean "to cause to separate or break up," dispel stresses a driving away or getting rid of as if by scattering.

an authoritative statement that dispelled all doubt

When would disperse be a good substitute for dispel?

While in some cases nearly identical to dispel, disperse implies a wider separation and a complete breaking up of a mass or group.

police dispersed the crowd

When could dissipate be used to replace dispel?

The words dissipate and dispel can be used in similar contexts, but dissipate stresses complete disintegration or dissolution and final disappearance.

the fog was dissipated by the morning sun

When might scatter be a better fit than dispel?

The meanings of scatter and dispel largely overlap; however, scatter implies a force that drives parts or units irregularly in many directions.

the bowling ball scattered the pins

Examples of dispel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Biden sounded hoarse and appeared to stumble through several answers, and did little to dispel concerns about his age among voters. —

Aron Solomon, Newsweek, 9 July 2024 Stocks rebounded Tuesday and through mid-day Wednesday, easing, though not dispelling, worries of a downturn. —

Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 7 Aug. 2024 The myth that the most powerful magnet in the world can control the weather here has endured among locals for decades, about as long as officials at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory have tried to dispel it. —

Jeffrey Schweers, Orlando Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2024 The endorsement, coming several days after President Joe Biden announced his exit from the presidential race on July 21, dispels any lingering doubts about Harris’s support from the Democratic party’s most influential figures. —

Melissa Noel, Essence, 26 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for dispel

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dispel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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“Dispel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dispel. Accessed 16 Sep. 2024.

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Last Updated: 14 Sep 2024 - Updated example sentences

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Synonyms of dispel

verb

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Examples of dispel in a Sentence

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