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
• separate
• disseminate
• 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
• make ducks and drakes of
• 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
• divide
• disband
• 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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• economizer
• saver
• miser
• niggard
• 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

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