Synonyms of dissipate

dissipate 1 of 2

verb

ˈdi-sə-ˌpāt 

1

as in to disperse

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

dissipated the enemy forces with unremitting artillery fire

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

2

as in to spend

to use up carelessly

dissipated the family fortune in reckless business ventures

Synonyms & Similar Words

• spend
• lose
• waste
• squander
• throw away
• blow
• run through
• lavish
• trifle (away)
• misspend
• fritter (away)
• consume
• deplete
• play ducks and drakes with
• fiddle away
• exhaust
• disburse
• expend
• indulge
• impoverish
• splurge
• lay out
• overindulge
• overspend
• shoot

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• conserve
• protect
• preserve
• economize
• save
• skimp
• hoard
• lay up
• scrimp

3

as in to disappear

to go off in different directions and cease to exist as a body or unified whole

the fog should dissipate once the sun comes out in full force

Synonyms & Similar Words

• disperse
• disappear
• dissolve
• fade
• scatter
• evaporate
• disassemble
• melt
• disband
• divide
• diverge
• spill
• separate
• flee
• fork
• branch (out)
• break up
• clear
• evanesce
• go (away)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• meet
• gather
• congregate

dissipate

2 of 2

noun

as in waster

Related Words

• waster
• spendthrift
• prodigal
• wastrel
• squanderer
• fritterer
• high roller
• spender
• profligate

Dissimilar Words

• economizer
• saver
• miser
• conserver
• skinflint
• cheapskate
• piker
• tightwad
• penny-pincher
• scrooge

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb dissipate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of dissipate are dispel, disperse, and scatter. While all these words mean "to cause to separate or break up," dissipate stresses complete disintegration or dissolution and final disappearance.

the fog was dissipated by the morning sun

When could dispel be used to replace dissipate?

In some situations, the words dispel and dissipate are roughly equivalent. However, dispel stresses a driving away or getting rid of as if by scattering.

an authoritative statement that dispelled all doubt

When might disperse be a better fit than dissipate?

The synonyms disperse and dissipate are sometimes interchangeable, but disperse implies a wider separation and a complete breaking up of a mass or group.

police dispersed the crowd

When can scatter be used instead of dissipate?

While the synonyms scatter and dissipate are close in meaning, scatter implies a force that drives parts or units irregularly in many directions.

the bowling ball scattered the pins

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of dissipate

Verb

Theorists had connected the viscosity of the soup, which enabled it to dissipate energy, to the black hole’s ability to gobble up energy and hide it. — Charlie Wood, Quanta Magazine, 17 Aug. 2026

The viciousness of Manson’s crimes left a lasting mark on American culture and Manson himself achieved a perverse popularity — which has not dissipated in the years since his death. — Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 15 Aug. 2026

Fears about the decline of the big-screen experience amid the rise of at-home streaming seem to have begun dissipating. — David Sims, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2026

The current forecast calls for #Cristobal to dissipate on Thursday as conditions become increasingly unfavorable. — Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2026