DISCARD Synonyms: 67 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'discard' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of discard are cast , junk , scrap , shed , and slough . While all these words mean "to get rid of," discard implies the letting go or throwing away of something that has become useless or superfluous though often not intrinsically valueless. // discard old clothes

Q: Where would 'cast' be a reasonable alternative to 'discard'?

The words cast and discard can be used in similar contexts, but cast , especially when used with off, away , or out , implies a forceful rejection or repudiation. // cast off her friends

Q: How are the words 'scrap' and 'junk' related as synonyms of 'discard'?

Both scrap and junk imply throwing away or breaking up as worthless in existent form. // scrap all the old ways // would junk our educational system

Q: How do 'shed' and 'slough' relate to one another, in the sense of 'discard'?

Shed and slough imply a throwing off of something both useless and encumbering and often suggest a consequent renewal of vitality or luster. // shed a bad habit // finally sloughed off the depression

discard 1 of 2

noun

ˈdis-ˌkärd

Definition of discard

as in reject

something separated from a group or lot for not being as good as the others toss all of your discards in the garbage

Synonyms & Similar Words

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discard

2 of 2

verb

dis-ˈkärd

as in to dump

to get rid of as useless or unwanted discard an old, torn sweater

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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How is the word discard different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of discard are cast, junk, scrap, shed, and slough. While all these words mean "to get rid of," discard implies the letting go or throwing away of something that has become useless or superfluous though often not intrinsically valueless.

discard old clothes

Where would cast be a reasonable alternative to discard?

The words cast and discard can be used in similar contexts, but cast, especially when used with off, away, or out, implies a forceful rejection or repudiation.

cast off her friends

How are the words scrap and junk related as synonyms of discard?

Both scrap and junk imply throwing away or breaking up as worthless in existent form.

scrap all the old ways

would junk our educational system

How do shed and slough relate to one another, in the sense of discard?

Shed and slough imply a throwing off of something both useless and encumbering and often suggest a consequent renewal of vitality or luster.

shed a bad habit

finally sloughed off the depression

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 discard

Noun

Li has dedicated freezer bags for different dishes, like vegetable scraps for soups or fruit discards for smoothies. — Emily Siner, NPR, 27 June 2026 Tracking discards, reading opponents, weighing probabilities and managing your own hand all happen at once, every turn. — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 24 June 2026

Verb

During intermission, the audience stays in their seats and the actors on stage, as the crew clean up the fake blood and discarded costumes and the performers remove the chalk from their faces. — Demetrios Matheou, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026 Meanwhile, the researchers needed to discard Fitbit from their trial entirely because the device repeatedly glitched during experiments. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for discard

Recent Examples of Synonyms for discard

Noun

And both the immune and eliminated designers are high on their own power; Elizabeth, in particular, is acting mighty haughty for a woman whose ruffled scarlet satin dress looks like a reject from the Westworld costume department.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 17 July 2026
The most opinionated of these rejects is Smarty Pants, a basic toilet-training tech tool given an amusingly snarky attitude by Conan O’Brien.

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 June 2026

Definition of reject

Verb

By the time Warners dumped it into theaters, however, too many bad feelings had accumulated between the executives and Ferrara for anyone to have much incentive to make the picture a success.

— Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2026
Auger-Aliassime was moving lethargically, not showing a lot of energy, dumping water on his head during changeovers to cool down.

— Lukas Weese, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of dump

Noun

Both Livonia and Beverly Hills city councils are discussing a deer cull, following the lead of Southfield, Farmington and Farmington Hills, which held the region’s first cull earlier this year.

— Susan Bromley, Freep.com, 1 Sep. 2026
This decision risks a reduction in the price dairy farmers receive for their cull cows and higher profits for foreign beef exporters, all for a potentially nominal decrease in the retail ground beef price.

— Esme Murphy, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of cull

Verb

My grandmother was from Mexican aristocracy, and her passion drove her to ditch her fiancé at the altar to marry my gringo grandad across the border.

— Griffin Dunne, Vanity Fair, 11 Sep. 2026
The show’s designer, Nolan Miller, lobbied hard for Hack, whose casting offered him a chance to ditch Jackson’s turtleneck-and-jeans sensibility for high fashion.

— Michael Callahan, HollywoodReporter, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of ditch

Noun

Ole Miss moves into the top 10 for its last-second win against another top-25 opponent in Louisville.

— Chris Vannini, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Senior receiver Mikey Matthews made a significant contribution, catching four passes for 88 yards, including a deep ball with 13 seconds left at the end of the first half that allowed UCLA to kick a field goal and take a seven-point lead.

— Connor Dullinger, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of second

Noun

Asked whether Kraken players take rejections like Robertson’s personally, center Matty Beniers didn’t hesitate for a second.

— Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Protecting someone’s right to reject the American experiment is different from treating that rejection as simply another interpretation of it.

— Joe Daniels, Time, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of rejection

Verb

Manchester City won the title three consecutive times between 2021 and 2024 but have lost in the final to Chelsea and Aston Villa in the last two seasons.

— Rob Tanner, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
While rights activists accuse Bukele's government of widespread abuses, the country is notably safer than many other countries whose people have recently lost TPS protections.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of lose

Browse Nearby Words

disbursing

discard

discarded

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“Discard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discard. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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