DISMISS Synonyms: 141 Similar and Opposite Words

dismiss

verb

dis-ˈmis

Definition of dismiss

as in to remove

to let go from office, service, or employment the secretary was dismissed after it was discovered that she was stealing office supplies

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to eject

to drive or force out the sick boy's nurse dismissed the visitors so he could get some rest

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to minimize

to express scornfully one's low opinion of critics dismissed his music as mere noise

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 dismiss Distillation proves the notebook is valuable The labs can’t dismiss reasoning tokens as meaningless computational exhaust. — Adam Fish, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026 Liman dismissed Baldoni’s lawsuit, finding that his claims against Lively, Reynolds and others were legally insufficient. — Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026 The judge dismissed the jury with instructions to return with an open mind for closing arguments. — Sumiko Corley, NBC news, 26 Aug. 2026 Fedorov was dismissed in July as part of a broader government shake-up. — ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dismiss

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dismiss

Verb

In sick bay, M’Benga tries to remove the table and end his life so Chapel can give up on him, an effort that proves futile.

— Keith Phipps, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2026
Though your home may have its share of appliances, mail, mugs, or anything else that lives on your countertops daily, they should be removed before listing.

— Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of remove

Verb

Plate umpire Alan Porter tossed Vitello and first-base ump Jim Wolf ejected Webb, who was not pitching Friday.

— ABC News, ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026
Days later, a former NBA player who has used the WNBA as a vehicle for anti-trans advocacy was ejected from a Chicago Sky game, after engaging in an altercation with team guard Natasha Cloud.

— Odette Yousef, NPR, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of eject

Verb

Once the major economies stop asking how to minimize the global costs of adjustment and begin asking instead how to minimize their own risk, the opportunity to find a relatively painless solution to the global trade imbalance will have passed.

— MICHAEL PETTIS, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2026
The hotel takes part in ‘Green Engage’ initiatives to minimize carbon footprint and is committed to reducing plastic use by 90 percent and glass waste by 80 percent (although no official end-date has been set).

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of minimize

Verb

Craig was sacked three times and once UNC started keying on the run, the Horned Frogs struggled to match the Tar Heels’ physicality.

— Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Aug. 2026
In a real game, Bryce Young would have been sacked at least a half-dozen times and probably more.

— Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of sack

Verb

Co-owner John Mara is battling cancer, and co-owner Steve Tisch is laying low after being outed in the Epstein Files.

— Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 22 Aug. 2026
Then the rest of the game occurred, a 20-12 victory in which Ty Simpson emerged with arguably the best rookie quarterback outing across the league over the weekend.

— Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of out

Verb

At least one expert said that some workers could have access to oxygen, but others warned that the chances of finding survivors were diminishing.

— Shristi Kafle, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Violence diminishes its victims, forcing everyone to play a single thankless role.

— Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of diminish

Verb

The sellers, who are retiring, bought the retail space from The Arlington’s original developers back in 2007, Walker said.

— Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 28 Aug. 2026
The man who caught him, Pete Willis (De Niro), has been retired from public service for almost as long, even if there are still a few loose ends that haunt him.

— Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of retire

Browse Nearby Words

dismembers

dismiss

dismissal

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Dismiss.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dismiss. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of dismiss

verb

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