Synonyms of dispel

dispel

verb

di-ˈspel 

as in to disperse

to cause (members of a group) to move widely apart

the sudden downpour dispelled the throng of street revelers

Synonyms & Similar Words

• disperse
• dissipate
• scatter
• isolate
• disband
• squander
• segregate
• disseminate
• clear out
• diffuse
• split (up)
• separate
• part
• spread
• break up
• diverge

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• collect
• gather
• concentrate
• assemble
• congregate
• cluster
• unite
• unify
• conglomerate
• ingather
• agglutinate

Synonym Chooser

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

On Sunday, Biltmore Forest officials sent a text blitz to residents to dispel rumors. —Jessica Pishko, The New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2024

Biden won’t take a cognitive test to dispel doubts. Section 4 of the 25th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution should be used immediately to remove Biden from the presidency for mental inability. —Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 4 Oct. 2024

How to apply for FEMA aid after Hurricanes Helene and Milton The agency also dispelled rumors that survivors seeking assistance will only receive $750. —Amanda Musa, CNN, 12 Oct. 2024

This dispels the ghost, but immediately Agatha (Kathryn Hahn) begins to absorb Alice’s powers. —Erik Kain, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024