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

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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 The coach dismissed it often late last season and has already done so this season. — Doug Haller, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2026 Petrungaro will issue a ruling on whether to dismiss the request at a later date. — Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 27 Oct. 2026 Under federal rules, prosecutors generally must obtain an indictment within 30 days of a person's arrest, or risk the case being dismissed. — Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026 If the prospect of being speedily dismissed by Pat Murphy’s gang is a downer for the Rays’ faithful, a 4-0 door-slam may be even more distressful to Fox and its advertising partners. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 27 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dismiss

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dismiss

Verb

Meanwhile, On and Dior have also reportedly removed Chinese promotional content featuring Mbappé, although neither had announced a global termination, according to Chinese news outlet Phoenix.

— Matthew Tan, CNBC, 28 Oct. 2026
That designation was removed last year by an outside counsel.

— Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of remove

Verb

The theme park operator announced the extra safeguard less than two weeks after 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem of Atlanta died after being ejected from his seat on the Goliath coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia.

— Russ Bynum, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
Where the investigation stands Preliminary information gathered at the scene from witnesses and employees indicated Kariem had been ejected from the ride, the Cobb County Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit said.

— Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of eject

Verb

While any sunscreen stick can shift your foundation or blush a bit, this one's smooth, almost primer-like texture helps minimize tugging.

— Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 28 Oct. 2026
That’s not to minimize any of these genres in the comparison, or to give any time to the laughable claim that escapist fiction is low-brow, reductive fare.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of minimize

Verb

Some people condemned the work for outing Foucault as a fellow AIDS sufferer.

— Hilton Als, New Yorker, 27 Oct. 2026
Group chats pulled from Nolan Wells' cellphone show what his friends said before and after the Mississippi teen vanished in early July following a boat outing with friends.

— Skyler Henry, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of out

Verb

Members of Congress could be expected to resist presidential encroachments because those encroachments diminished their own power.

— Stephanie A, The Conversation, 26 Oct. 2026
In theory, such an arrangement diminishes the cells’ ability to transport oxygen from the lungs.

— D. T. Max, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of diminish

Verb

Megill retired Richie Palacios on a grounder to second to end it, threw his arms in the air and was mobbed by teammates near the mound while Brewers fans celebrated in the stands.

— Rob Maaddi, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026
Amid the onset of Parkinson’s disease, Lincoln retired from the museum in 2014.

— Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of retire

Verb

And despite decades of efforts to banish it to history, the language has limped on, simply refusing to die.

— Robert Hart, The Verge, 26 Oct. 2026
These cases include the current lawsuit by CNN, MS NOW and Politico, whose journalists were banished from the White House in September.

— Jocelyn Noveck, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of banish

Browse Nearby Words

dismembers

dismiss

dismissal

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Style

“Dismiss.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dismiss. Accessed 2 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of dismiss

verb

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