dissipate 1 of 2

dissipate

2 of 2

noun

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

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 dissipate
Noun
But that doesn't mean Adams' angst against Xavier has dissipated. Madeline Mitchell, The Enquirer, 3 July 2025 Meanwhile, the president’s goodwill toward another nation appears to have dissipated. Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 2 July 2025 On five occasions, the smell had dissipated by the time agencies' workers arrived. Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 2 July 2025 Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Barry dissipated over Mexico, and Tropical Storm Flossie has formed off southern Mexico’s Pacific coast. Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 30 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for dissipate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dissipate
Verb
  • The package comes with a funky plastic lens that pops over the front of the projector's optics to disperse the light show in interesting patterns.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 9 July 2025
  • When dry, the seed heads shatter to disperse the seed.
    Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 July 2025
Verb
  • The squad have spent the past week in nearby New York City, holed up in a hotel on affluent Fifth Avenue but occasionally allowed out to explore Manhattan between training sessions.
    Oliver Kay, New York Times, 12 July 2025
  • On July 12, 2015, Tiffany spent the day with her family.
    Alex Gurley, People.com, 12 July 2025
Verb
  • The child disappeared in June of that year but wasn’t reported missing until July when Caylee’s grandmother learned that Anthony hadn’t seen her daughter in a month.
    Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 12 July 2025
  • Love locks have been slowly disappearing from the Old Red Bridge in south Kansas City off Red Bridge Road, as an amateur locksmith from Overland Park admits to using the locks to practice his skills.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 11 July 2025
Noun
  • The biggest water waster, though, is cleaning during installation and use.
    IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 13 Nov. 2014
  • Who is a time waster and who is your next biggest client?
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
Verb
  • In the 25 years before it was signed, more than 3,500 people lost their lives in the Troubles.
    Alex Ritman, Variety, 9 July 2025
  • But revived Western cooperation on Iran might at least give those inside the Trump administration who still prize America’s alliances hope that all is not yet lost.
    John R. Bolton, The Atlantic, 9 July 2025
Verb
  • The tap water during winter could be too cold in some regions, and detergents are designed to dissolve in specific temperatures.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 11 July 2025
  • Give your detergent a chance to dissolve in warm water before adding your clothes.
    Kathy Barnes, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 July 2025
Noun
  • The last generation’s spendthrifts have become this generation’s scolds, as controversies recur over the same parcels of land with new names in the old roles.
    Andrew Rice, Curbed, 26 June 2025
  • Ter Stegen is one of the few Barca players remaining from the spendthrift reign of former club president Josep Maria Bartomeu.
    Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 6 June 2025
Verb
  • The celestial trio will remain close to each other throughout the night, with Saturn and Neptune eventually fading from sight in the southern sky when the sun rises on July 16.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 15 July 2025
  • The brand recommends avoiding dabbing or blotting after applying the spray, as this can cause the fragrance to break down and fade.
    Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 15 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Dissipate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dissipate. Accessed 23 Jul. 2025.

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