discard 1 of 2

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

Synonym Chooser

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
While scouting for bricks at New Jersey’s Perth Amboy Terracotta Company, Stan passed a stable constructed from oddly hued discards, failed experiments in mixing colors. Henry Wiencek july 22, Literary Hub, 22 July 2025 One distiller's discard can be another company's treasure. Matthew Glowicki, The Courier-Journal, 14 July 2025
Verb
Dairy and lunch meat had to be discarded due to this. Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Oct. 2025 If the murder weapon was something other than a liquor bottle, that means the killer brought the weapon, carried it out and discarded it. Keith Sharon, Nashville Tennessean, 7 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for discard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discard
Noun
  • In it, Jackson Lamb (Oldman), River Cartwright (Jack Lowden) and the rest of the MI5 rejects are on the case — and a bit on the defense.
    Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2025
  • As the saying goes, nobody wants to sit at the reject table.
    Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • With exactly 11 minutes remaining, Walker dumped a screen pass off to O’Brien.
    Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 17 Oct. 2025
  • In some cases, a major winter storm will dump heavy snow in northern areas, while the South contends with a springlike severe storm threat from the same system.
    Chris Dolce, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Glassberg Sands is holding out hope that frontline employees will be safe from the cull, but as more human skills are targeted for automation, there could be drastic effects on the careers of recent grads.
    Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2025
  • This bass species had the genes for a range of survival strategies before the culls started, Zarri says.
    Martin J. Kernan, Scientific American, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Gen Zers in their droves are ditching college to become their own boss.
    Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Duke also proposed new natural gas plants, like in Vermillion County, Indiana, and the Sierra Club noted the utility has ditched plans to build out renewable energy.
    Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 14 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Across their first seven matches, Mikel Arteta’s team have used 40 minutes and six seconds taking corners — at least 11 minutes more than any other team.
    Oliver Kay, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • In less than a second, the ball was clutched in Grizzle’s outstretched arms before he was brought down to the turf, part blue and part orange.
    Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 15 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Stick it under an SUV liftgate when unloading the trunk or cooking on a slide-out kitchen after dark.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 10 Oct. 2025
  • The Mariners’ third baseman, who slugged 49 in the regular season for the second time in his career, unloaded on a Flaherty fastball in the fourth inning, blasting it 422 feet into the left field seats above the bullpens.
    Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • One day, doctors could produce blood fully compatible with a patient’s body, avoiding rejection risks.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Other university leaders are saying MIT's rejection of the deal opens the door for other institutions to make the same choice, rather than agree to deals like some of the Ivies have.
    Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Max Muncy had just hurt his knee and would be out for a month, a 9-14 stretch when the team lost the bulk of what had been a nine-game division lead.
    Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Debate rages on in Pennsylvania as to whether the Eagles offense is too predictable, or simply ineffective after the Eagles lost their second straight game last week, an embarrassing defeat at the hands of the Giants on Thursday Night Football.
    Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 17 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Discard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discard. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.

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