divest

divest

verb

Definition of DIVEST

1

to end the occupancy or possession of <unable to make their mortgage payments, they were summarily divested of their house>

Synonyms divest, expropriate, oust

Related Words deforce, evict; disfurnish, strip; bereave, deprive, disinherit; annex, appropriate, commandeer, impound, seize, take over, usurp

2

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>

Synonyms clear, disburden, disencumber, divest, free, relieve, unburden

Related Words discharge, emancipate, enfranchise, liberate, loose, loosen, manumit, release, spring, unbind, uncage, unchain, unfetter; bail (out), deliver, redeem, rescue; disengage, disentangle, extricate

Near Antonyms bog (down), fetter, hamper, restrain, shackle, subject, weigh down, weight (down)

Antonyms burden, encumber, saddle

3

to take something away from <he was divested of the boxing title when the fraud was uncovered>

Synonyms abate, bereave, divest, strip

Related Words denude; cheat, clean (out), defraud, shortchange; bankrupt, disfurnish, impoverish