DISMISS Synonyms: 141 Similar and Opposite Words

dismiss

verb

dis-ˈmis

Definition of dismiss

as in to remove

to let go from office, service, or employment the secretary was dismissed after it was discovered that she was stealing office supplies

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to eject

to drive or force out the sick boy's nurse dismissed the visitors so he could get some rest

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to minimize

to express scornfully one's low opinion of critics dismissed his music as mere noise

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 dismiss Projected starting free safety Jacob FIelds was dismissed from TCU due to a physical altercation with a teammate in the locker room, the Star-Telegram has learned. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Aug. 2026 In a filing earlier this year, the Department of Justice argued that the judge should dismiss the claims brought by Defense Distributed and the Second Amendment Foundation, largely based on a lack of standing. — Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 19 Aug. 2026 The Panthers went 3-7 last season, dismissed head coach Teddy Keaton and brought in veteran voice Terry Sims to run the program. — Stan Awtrey, AJC.com, 19 Aug. 2026 Gayheart filed for divorce from Dane in 2018, but later filed to dismiss the case. — Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dismiss

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dismiss

Verb

Merck and Moderna have several large trials under way in non-small cell lung cancers that have been surgically removed.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
Beyond removing the psychological and practical barrier of injections, oral formulations are not reliant on syringes or refrigeration and are cheaper to manufacture.

— Perdita Nouril, Vogue, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of remove

Verb

The driver, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from the vehicle and taken to a hospital in critical condition.

— Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 21 Aug. 2026
Midfielder Yannick Bright was the Miami player ejected and is suspended for Saturday’s game at Nu Stadium.

— Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of eject

Verb

Prosecutors revealed Davis’ admittedly big mouth had been opening to investigators since 1998 – only two years after Shakur was gunned down – in a series of secret interviews trying to minimize his own legal damage by giving information to the cops.

— Andy Rose, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
This is intended to minimize degradation, reducing contrast decay and improving light projection reliability, ultimately extending the screen's lifespan.

— Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of minimize

Verb

Lee Johnson After I got sacked from Fleetwood Town in 2023, I was basically cancelled in a football sense.

— Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
Bladow was sacked four times in the first half, and Rand blocked a punt that bounced out of the end zone for a safety in the second quarter in a demonstrative 18-0 shutout for Chaminade in its home opener.

— Ethan Hanson, Daily News, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of sack

Verb

Wrobleski and Roberts considered Saturday’s outing a solid one, sans the 88-mph slider to Ortiz on the right-middle part of the plate.

— Joaquin Ruiz, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2026
Photoplay’s feature Hollywood’s Unmarried Husbands and Wives outed several of the era’s most bankable couples—Clark Gable and Carole Lombard among them—for the crime of cohabitating without paperwork.

— Natalie Hoberman, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of out

Verb

The term refers to when tobacco companies in the 1990s were forced to pay billions of dollars for misleading the public about the safety and potential harms of their products, and subsequently saw their power and influence dramatically diminished.

— Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2026
The filter significantly diminishes elements commonly found in water that can be damaging, like chlorine, hydrogen sulfide, heavy metals, and more.

— Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of diminish

Verb

The investigators who haven’t already died are almost all retired, some of them awkwardly testifying via Zoom with technical difficulties from homes far away.

— Andy Rose, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
Cierria Davison took a leap of faith to start Over the Top after retiring early from Walmart during the pandemic.

— Leondra Head, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of retire

Browse Nearby Words

dismembers

dismiss

dismissal

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“Dismiss.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dismiss. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of dismiss

verb

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