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divest

verb

dī-ˈvest How to pronounce divest (audio)
Definition of divestnext
1
as in to evict
to end the occupancy or possession of unable to make their mortgage payments, they were summarily divested of their house

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to rid
to set (a person or thing) free of something that encumbers the former CEO has divested himself of most of his responsibilities but will continue to work with the company as a consultant

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to deprive
to take something away from he was divested of the boxing title when the fraud was uncovered

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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 divest While Cabinet officials subject to the laws can recuse themselves or divest holdings to address specific issues under their jurisdiction, it was seen as much more difficult for presidents who oversee the entire government to do the same. — ABC News, 14 Sep. 2026 The first hints of trouble started in 2019 when The Orchard was rebranded as 1091 Media and one of its principal backers, Sony, divested from the company. — Brent Lang, IndieWire, 8 Sep. 2026 The decision follows a separate antitrust ruling last year, when a judge rejected calls to force Google to divest Chrome. — Mackenzie Sigalos,drew Troast, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026 Require candidates for governor to divest controlling interests in companies doing business with the state. — Adam Beam, AJC.com, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for divest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for divest
  1. evict
  2. relieve
  3. deprive
  4. dispossess
  5. strip
  6. oust
Verb
  • When the government expanded the park in the late 1990s and early 2000s, hundreds of villagers—including Mgesi's family—were forcibly evicted from their ancestral lands.
    — Juliet Kinsman, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Twenty-six percent of women who were pregnant or postpartum when they were illegally evicted lacked a lease, and 21% of all interview participants who were illegally evicted had a month-to-month tenancy.
    — Shawnita Sealy-Jefferson, The Conversation, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of evict
Verb
  • These adaptogenics also cost as much, if not more, than alcoholic spirits, such as Three Spirit, which incorporates ingredients such as guayusa (stimulating effects), damiana (aphrodisiac effects) and valerian (stress-relieving effects).
    — Esther Tseng, Bon Appetit Magazine, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Its occlusive formula can, however, relieve serious dryness, making rough texture feel smoother and less pronounced.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of relieve
Verb
  • The injury deprives quarterback Matthew Stafford of his top target as the Rams look to avoid an 0-2 start.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Even worse, the process of trying to decompose those grounds can deprive your orchid of nutrients.
    — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of deprive
Verb
  • The youngster was dispossessed but the ball fell to Mac Allister, who curled his effort into the top corner.
    — Andy Jones, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • He was tackled and dispossessed with the ball on a trajectory to the goal.
    — Monica Alba, NBC news, 24 June 2026
Definition of dispossess
Verb
  • Sweeney recently stripped down for a nearly-nude commercial promoting the sports betting app.
    — Daysia Tolentino, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Sep. 2026
  • The result is a safer-phone category that already spans traditional feature phones, minimalist devices and smartphones that have been deliberately stripped of distracting features.
    — Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of strip
Verb
  • The parliament, or Bundestag, can oust Merz only through what is known as a constructive vote of no confidence.
    — Anna Noryskiewicz, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Then Carl Icahn ran a proxy contest in the middle of all this that ousted the chairman in 2023 and led to CEO Francis deSouza resigning shortly after.
    — Josh Brown,Sean Russo, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of oust

Browse Nearby Words

dives (into)
divest
divested
See all Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Divest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/divest. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

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