dissociate

verb

(ˌ)di-ˈsō-shē-ˌāt How to pronounce dissociate (audio)
Definition of dissociatenext
as in to divide
to set or force apart attempts to dissociate herself from her troubled past

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 dissociate Trump’s administration is not the first to want to dissociate itself from this word. — Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2026 Out the bottom, hypoaroused, includes being disengaged, numb, frozen, apathetic or even dissociated. — Dr. Joel M. Rothaizer, Forbes.com, 5 Mar. 2026 Galaxies will dissociate due to gravitational interactions, ejecting all masses and leaving only supermassive black holes behind. — Big Think, 20 Feb. 2026 Time to dissociate under a blanket. — Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 6 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dissociate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dissociate
  1. divide
  2. separate
  3. split
  4. disconnect
  5. disassociate
  6. sever
Verb
  • In the case of Yemen, the ground fighters inside the country who are taking on the Houthis are deeply divided and fought each other as recently as January.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Forty years ago, Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev met at Höfði House, representing rival nuclear superpowers divided by decades of distrust.
    — Halla Tómasdóttir, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of divide
Verb
  • We are connected across continents in milliseconds, but too often separated by fear, anger, and mistrust.
    — Halla Tómasdóttir, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Initially, Jessie’s overriding goal was simply to win back playtime with Bonnie, especially after becoming separated from her during a dance class.
    — Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of separate
Verb
  • The airport’s revenue share would drop from 60% to 55%, with the five airlines splitting the remaining 45% of revenue.
    — Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Denmark's defense intelligence service specifically warned Russia could use such tactics to split the NATO alliance.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of split
Verb
  • The Clean Energy Choice Act, introduced by Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park), requires utilities to offer homeowners a financial incentive to disconnect from gas and electrify the home when gas service line repairs are scheduled.
    — Molly McCrea, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The team also demonstrated that the sheet could reconstruct its overall shape even after some fibers were cut or disconnected.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of disconnect
Verb
  • Comedian George Lopez recently disassociated from the Dodgers and Lakers, citing Walter's ties to GEO Group, a private prison company operating ICE detention centers for profit.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • Around the same time, Hogshead began a letter writing campaign aimed at drawing broader attention to Butler’s controversies and urging other volleyball organizations and teams to disassociate themselves from him.
    — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 22 June 2026
Definition of disassociate
Verb
  • Colombia opened an embassy in Jerusalem on Wednesday, marking a major shift in relations with Israel after conservative President Abelardo de la Espriella restored diplomatic ties severed by his predecessor over the war in Gaza.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Fluorine is then released into the water as fluoride ions, while hydroxyl radicals and hydroxide ions help sever carbon-carbon bonds in the remaining molecular chains.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of sever

Browse Nearby Words

dissociable
dissociate
dissociated
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Dissociate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dissociate. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of fervid

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All