dispel

verb

dis·​pel di-ˈspel 

dispelled; dispelling

transitive verb

: to drive away or cause to vanish by or as if by scattering : dissipate

dispel a rumor

Synonyms

• clear out
• disband
• disperse
• dissipate
• scatter
• squander

Choose the Right Synonym for dispel

scatter, disperse, dissipate, dispel mean to cause to separate or break up.

scatter implies a force that drives parts or units irregularly in many directions.

the bowling ball scattered the pins

disperse implies a wider separation and a complete breaking up of a mass or group.

police dispersed the crowd

dissipate stresses complete disintegration or dissolution and final disappearance.

the fog was dissipated by the morning sun

dispel stresses a driving away or getting rid of as if by scattering.

an authoritative statement that dispelled all doubt

Examples of dispel in a Sentence

This report should dispel any doubts you have about the plan.

She made an official statement to dispel any rumors about her retirement.

The experience dispelled some of our fears about the process.

Recent Examples on the Web

Harris had sought to dispel concerns about the economy, as the inflation rate has dropped since 2022. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2024

Statistics show that best practices dispel fears about AI: In 2023, developers created 65,000 AI projects on the GitHub platform, two-and-a-half times more than the year before. —Oleksandr Sheremeta, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024

Other counties temporarily postponed voting for some 30 minutes while officials dispelled the threat. Fulton County, where the bomb threats were made, is looking to extend voting hours due to the disturbance. —Time Staff, TIME, 5 Nov. 2024

Fourth-quarter woes continue for Chargers defense (Matt York / Associated Press) While the offense has done little to dispel its preseason question, the defense is still trying to address its own lingering problem. —Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin dispellere, from dis- + pellere to drive, beat — more at felt

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

dispel

verb

dis·​pel dis-ˈpel 

dispelled; dispelling

: to drive away by or as if by scattering : dissipate