dismiss

1 to let go from office, service, or employment the secretary was dismissed after it was discovered that she was stealing office supplies Synonyms ax (or axe), bounce, can, cashier, discharge, fire, muster out, pink-slip, release, remove, retire, sack, terminate, turn off Related Words downsize, excess, furlough, lay off, trim; boot (out), chuck (out), drum (out), kick out, throw out, unseat; separate Phrases send packing, show (one) the door Near Antonyms keep; reemploy, rehire; contract, subcontract; recruit Antonyms employ, engage, hire, retain, sign (up or on), take on

2 to drive or force out the sick boy's nurse dismissed the visitors so he could get some rest Synonyms banish, boot (out), bounce, cast out, chase, eject, drum (out), expel, extrude, kick out, oust, out, rout, run off, throw out, turf (out) [chiefly British], turn outRelated Words deforce, deport, displace, dispossess, evict, exile, expatriate, ostracize, read out, shut out; ax (or axe), can, cashier, defenestrate, discharge, fire, muster out, pink-slip, release, remove, retire, sack, terminateNear Antonyms accept, admit, receive, take, take in; welcome; entertain, harbor, house, lodge, shelter

3 to express scornfully one's low opinion of critics dismissed his music as mere noise Synonyms bad-mouth, belittle, cry down, denigrate, deprecate, depreciate, derogate, diminish, dis (also diss) [slang], discount, decry, disparage, kiss off, minimize, play down, poor-mouth, put down, run down, talk down, trash, trash-talk, vilipend, write offRelated Words discommend; abuse, scold; disapprove (of), dislike; censure, condemn, criticize, denounce, reprehend, reprobate; asperse, defame, malign, rip, slander, slur, traduce, vilify; discredit, disgraceNear Antonyms approve, countenance, endorse (also indorse), favor, recommend, sanction; commend, compliment, eulogizeAntonyms acclaim, applaud, exalt, extol (also extoll), glorify, laud, magnify, praise