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
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 These outdoor experts dispel some of the common misconceptions about bears and highlight five safety hiking and camping tips to keep in mind. 
Johanna Flashman, SELF, 22 Aug. 2022 The Sheriff’s Office quickly moved to dispel claims of an active shooter in the area, delivering updates to its social media channels moments after shots were being reported online. David Harris, Orlando Sentinel, 23 July 2022 The guys try dispel the myth that sharks are man-eating beasts through extreme challenges. Marianne Garvey, CNN, 11 July 2022 But what Banchero has shown so far doesn't dispel the question marks that followed him into the draft. Rahat Huq, Chron, 11 July 2022 His image also got a boost from Isabella’s pregnancy, since that helped dispel some of the rumors about his sexuality, plus a royal baby is always good for PR. Anne Thériault, Longreads, 21 June 2022 Odenkirk is open to talking about his experience, in part out of a desire to dispel COVID-19 vaccine misinformation, which spread online in the wake of his heart attack. Barbara Vandenburgh, USA TODAY, 26 Feb. 2022 Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube partnered with the World Health Organization to inform users about limiting the spread of the coronavirus and to dispel misinformation. NBC News, 21 Oct. 2021 However, other medical professionals have highlighted the need to share as much research with the public about vaccine side effects and to dispel misinformation surrounding side effects. Alice Broster, Forbes, 29 Sep. 2021 See More
Johanna Flashman, SELF, 22 Aug. 2022 The Sheriff’s Office quickly moved to dispel claims of an active shooter in the area, delivering updates to its social media channels moments after shots were being reported online. David Harris, Orlando Sentinel, 23 July 2022 The guys try dispel the myth that sharks are man-eating beasts through extreme challenges. Marianne Garvey, CNN, 11 July 2022 But what Banchero has shown so far doesn't dispel the question marks that followed him into the draft. Rahat Huq, Chron, 11 July 2022 His image also got a boost from Isabella’s pregnancy, since that helped dispel some of the rumors about his sexuality, plus a royal baby is always good for PR. Anne Thériault, Longreads, 21 June 2022 Odenkirk is open to talking about his experience, in part out of a desire to dispel COVID-19 vaccine misinformation, which spread online in the wake of his heart attack. Barbara Vandenburgh, USA TODAY, 26 Feb. 2022 Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube partnered with the World Health Organization to inform users about limiting the spread of the coronavirus and to dispel misinformation. NBC News, 21 Oct. 2021 However, other medical professionals have highlighted the need to share as much research with the public about vaccine side effects and to dispel misinformation surrounding side effects. Alice Broster, Forbes, 29 Sep. 2021 See More 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 di-ˈspel
dispelled; dispelling
: to make go away
dispel doubts
dispel
verb
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
Relevance
- disperse
- dissipate
- disband
- scatter
- squander
- isolate
- clear out
- segregate
- diffuse
- disseminate
- separate
- part
- spread
- diverge
- break up
- split (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- gather
- collect
- concentrate
- assemble
- congregate
- cluster
- unite
- unify
- ingather
- conglomerate
- agglutinate
Synonym Chooser
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
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
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
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
- someone's life depends on
- someone's life depends on (something)
- someone's life depends on something
- someone's lips are sealed
- someone's lookout
- someone's memory lives on
- someone's mind is in a spin
- someone's mind is made up
- someone's mind is playing tricks on her
- someone's mind is playing tricks on him
- someone's mind is playing tricks on him/her
- someone's money's worth
- someone's name is mud
- someone's normal self
- someone's number is up
- someone's prayers have been answered
- someone's return home
- someone's ship comes in
- someone's spirits soar
- someone's stomach is in knots
- someone's wish comes true
- someone's wish is my command
- someone's word is her bond
- someone's word is his bond
- someone's word is his/her bond