Synonyms of dispel

dispel

verb

di-ˈspel 

as in to disperse

to cause (members of a group) to move widely apart

the sudden downpour dispelled the throng of street revelers

Synonyms & Similar Words

• disperse
• dissipate
• scatter
• isolate
• disband
• squander
• segregate
• disseminate
• clear out
• diffuse
• split (up)
• separate
• part
• spread
• break up
• diverge

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• collect
• gather
• concentrate
• assemble
• congregate
• cluster
• unite
• unify
• conglomerate
• ingather
• agglutinate

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb dispel differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of dispel are disperse, dissipate, and scatter. While all these words mean "to cause to separate or break up," dispel stresses a driving away or getting rid of as if by scattering.

an authoritative statement that dispelled all doubt

When would disperse be a good substitute for dispel?

While in some cases nearly identical to dispel, disperse implies a wider separation and a complete breaking up of a mass or group.

police dispersed the crowd

When could dissipate be used to replace dispel?

The words dissipate and dispel can be used in similar contexts, but dissipate stresses complete disintegration or dissolution and final disappearance.

the fog was dissipated by the morning sun

When might scatter be a better fit than dispel?

The meanings of scatter and dispel largely overlap; however, scatter implies a force that drives parts or units irregularly in many directions.

the bowling ball scattered the pins

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of dispel

But Carone vigorously dispelled any notion of an arrangement between Adams and Trump. —Eric Lach, New Yorker, 5 May 2025

Among many other topics, leading researchers hope to dispel myths about substances such as MDMA. —Benjamin Adams, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025

When dictatorship prevails, the darkness of this administration will be hard to dispel. — Bruce Knauff, Towson Add your voice: Respond to this piece or other Sun content by submitting your own letter. —Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 8 May 2025

Authorities also stressed that Mendez’s death was not related to any serial killer, attempting to dispel rumors that have spread online. —Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 5 May 2025