Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

dissipate

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of dissipate

1 to cause (members of a group) to move widely apart
  • dissipated the enemy forces with unremitting artillery fire
Synonyms of dissipate

clear out, disband, dispel, disperse, scatter, squander
Words Related to dissipate

break up, isolate, part, segregate, separate, split (up)

diffuse, disseminate, diverge, spread
Near Antonyms of dissipate

agglutinate, conglomerate

unify, unite
Antonyms of dissipate

assemble, cluster, collect, concentrate, congregate, gather, ingather
2 to use up carelessly
  • dissipated the family fortune in reckless business ventures
Synonyms of dissipate

blow, fiddle away, fritter (away), lavish, lose, misspend, run through, spend, squander, throw away, trifle (away), waste
Words Related to dissipate

splurge

consume, deplete, exhaust, impoverish, overspend, shoot

indulge, overindulge

disburse, expend, lay out
Phrases Synonymous with dissipate

play ducks and drakes with (or make ducks and drakes of)
Near Antonyms of dissipate

economize, scrimp, skimp

preserve, protect, save

hoard, lay up
Antonyms of dissipate

conserve
3 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 of dissipate

disassemble, disperse, dissolve, scatter
Words Related to dissipate

branch (out), break up, disband, diverge, divide, fork, separate, spill

clear, disappear, evanesce, evaporate, fade, flee, go (away), melt
Near Antonyms of dissipate

congregate, gather, meet

Synonym Discussion of dissipate

scatter, disperse, dissipate, dispel mean to cause to separate or break up. scatter implies a force that drives parts or units irregularly in many directions.
    • the bowling ball scattered the pins
disperse implies a wider separation and a complete breaking up of a mass or group.
    • police dispersed the crowd
dissipate stresses complete disintegration or dissolution and final disappearance.
    • the fog was dissipated by the morning sun
dispel stresses a driving away or getting rid of as if by scattering.
    • an authoritative statement that dispelled all doubt

Learn More about dissipate

  1. See words that rhyme with dissipate Dictionary: Definition of dissipate Spanish Central: Translation of dissipate Nglish: Translation of dissipate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of dissipate for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up dissipate? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

issuable

Listen to the pronounciation of issuable

authorized for issue (as a bond)

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. dastardly Trump makes threats to Iran

  2. stymie Scottish court rules prorogation illegal

  3. what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander Johnson's comments spark searches

SEE ALL
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games