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
Even if de minimis entry soon dissipates on goods inbound from countries across the globe, goods coming from India may see lower duty rates than products coming from other countries once the Trump administration sorts out tariff rates this summer. Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 12 June 2025 The release said by the time the National Guard arrived yesterday morning, the protests had dissipated, but their arrival reignited tensions. Sarah Dean, NBC news, 10 June 2025 Johnson’s demanding nature isn’t likely to dissipate anytime soon. Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2025 Remove from heat and add bourbon; return to heat and cook over medium, swirling pan frequently and spooning sugar mixture over cherries, until raw alcohol aroma mostly dissipates and cherries are soft, about 3 minutes. Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 2 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for dissipate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dissipate
Verb
  • When air is stagnant, pollutants don't get dispersed, allowing ozone to build up to unhealthy levels.
    Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025
  • The deeper grooves of the wet tires can disperse more water and are best for the rainiest days.
    Sean Gregory, Time, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • Rempe is spending this summer training in the New York area.
    Peter Baugh, New York Times, 18 June 2025
  • For the next five years, Daniele dug through MIT archives, spent time at libraries and visited Swallow’s birthplace in Dunstable, Mass.
    Gqlshare, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 June 2025
Verb
  • The man formerly known as Robert Prevost has somewhat disappeared ...
    Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review, 29 June 2025
  • While the boldest headlines tell how people are literally snatched off the streets, are being disappeared to foreign prisons, news that often receives less attention reveals that our civil liberties are also being snatched up, one by one.
    Michael Pfleger, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2025
Noun
  • Who is a time waster and who is your next biggest client?
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
  • For example, default settings for focus time added blocking of sites in the categories Shopping, Tabloids, and Time wasters.
    PCMAG, PCMAG, 13 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • The Sox are on pace to lose 110 games and own the second-worst 81-game start (26-55) in franchise history.
    Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2025
  • The New Zealand team Auckland City began the Club World Cup as the tournament’s fall guys, losing 10-0 against the German champions Bayern Munich, but by the end of the group stage, the semi-professional outfit earned respect by holding Boca Juniors to a draw.
    Adam Crafton, New York Times, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • Since Macron dissolved the French National Assembly, the CAC 40 index has slipped 4%.
    Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 18 June 2025
  • Library officials claimed this was done as part of the normal weeding process, though that doesn’t explain why the library board was dissolved and a new one created with the complainers as members that tried to close all the library branches.
    Anthony Aycock June 17, Literary Hub, 17 June 2025
Noun
  • 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
  • Finally, the claimant failed to prove that the spendthrift provision in the trust, which is critical to the protection the trust provided, should be invalidated.
    Martin Shenkman, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
Verb
  • Once the uncertainty begins to fade, capital returns more quickly than most anticipate.
    Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
  • The red measurement markings also have a tendency to fade over time, especially with frequent dishwasher use.
    Francesca Krempa, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Dissipate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dissipate. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.

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