as in to undeceive
to free from mistaken beliefs or foolish hopes
let me disabuse you of your foolish notions
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Recent Examples of disabuse
Against a barely upright Niners roster (especially wounded in the passing game), Sean McVay’s squad should sweep the leg and disabuse anyone of the notion San Francisco is a contender.
—
J.j. Bailey, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Pre-positioning munitions, as well as stockpiles of energy, medical, and food supplies, also could help disabuse Chinese leaders of the notion that Taiwan can be taken quickly and cheaply.
—Philip H. Gordon, Foreign Affairs, 22 Sep. 2025
By a similar token, that stark visual language — complicated by Zhao’s stately framing and related inclination toward surveillance-like interior shots that suggest the presence of a ghost looking down — helps to disabuse the drama of any potential staginess.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 30 Aug. 2025
And the refusal to be disabused by data suggests a deep instinct that vaccination in general is just too unnatural to be trusted — a very human impulse, clearly, but not one that can guide public health.
—Ross Douthat, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disabuse
J.j. Bailey, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Pre-positioning munitions, as well as stockpiles of energy, medical, and food supplies, also could help disabuse Chinese leaders of the notion that Taiwan can be taken quickly and cheaply.
—Philip H. Gordon, Foreign Affairs, 22 Sep. 2025
By a similar token, that stark visual language — complicated by Zhao’s stately framing and related inclination toward surveillance-like interior shots that suggest the presence of a ghost looking down — helps to disabuse the drama of any potential staginess.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 30 Aug. 2025
And the refusal to be disabused by data suggests a deep instinct that vaccination in general is just too unnatural to be trusted — a very human impulse, clearly, but not one that can guide public health.
—Ross Douthat, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disabuse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disabuse
Verb
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In late 1965, after facing threats from authorities and becoming disillusioned with Colombia’s political system, Torres joined the National Liberation Army, a rebel group that still exists.—
Manuel Rueda,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2026
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From the heady days post-revolution, the student movement splintered, and the electoral dominance of the traditional parties has left many young people disillusioned—not least since women stood at the vanguard of the July revolution yet were largely sidelined in the reform process.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Still, the Department of War, formerly known as the Department of Defense, advises that most UAP sightings can actually be identified as planes, balloons, drones and weather events.—
Kate Perez,
USA Today,
16 Feb. 2026
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Hunters and birdwatchers are advised to wear gloves when handling birds or feeders, to wash hands thoroughly after any contact, and to not eating birds that appear sick or birds that are found dead.—
Bryan Hendricks,
Arkansas Online,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But one person familiar with the decisions told Semafor that at least one executive from a company described by the survey had reached out to multiple outlets asking for the pieces to be taken down, arguing that the survey data was faulty and biased.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
16 Feb. 2026
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Both countries will be having their second round of talks on Tuesday in Geneva, Tehran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi told the BBC, adding that the Iran is ready to discuss restricting its nuclear program for lighter sanctions and economic benefits for both sides.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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American workers are disenchanted, depressed and frustrated.—
Chris Tomlinson,
Houston Chronicle,
5 Feb. 2026
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For more than 15 years, independents have made up the largest group of voters, as Americans have grown increasingly disenchanted with the two-party system.—
Sarah Fortinsky,
The Hill,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disabuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disabuse. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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