DISPEL Synonyms: 27 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of dispel Olie’s explanation had dispelled her fear and eased her mind. —

Literary Hub, 7 Jan. 2026 During an on-stage demonstration at this year’s CES convention in Las Vegas, Boston Dynamics showed off the agility of its humanoid Atlas robot — albeit with an unnerving degree of freedom of movement that dispels the illusion of a human entity. —

Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 7 Jan. 2026 Select Committee, which aimed to dispel myths and fake claims about the riot. —

Scott MacFarlane, CBS News, 4 Jan. 2026 This could include sharing the results of the aforementioned A/B tests in a blog, conducting an email awareness campaign dispelling common misconceptions about passkeys, or building popups that briefly explain the benefits of passkeys at the login screen. —

Fortune, 3 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dispel

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dispel

disperse

Verb

The footage also shows a federal agent at one point using a portable speaker to order the group to disperse.

— Sean Emery, Oc Register, 15 Jan. 2026
No matter where the passengers disperse, the train walls surround them.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026