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
  • More than ever, colleges and universities are divided over how to respond in what are likely to be no-win contests.
    — David Wippman, Washington Post, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Union households support the measure, while non-union families are evenly divided about it.
    — Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of divide
Verb
  • For the first time, two worlds—once separated—are coming face to face, not through screams, but through laughter.
    — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The couple separated in 1981, and their divorce was finalized in 1983.
    — Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of separate
Verb
  • While Sebastiaan Bornauw was staying wide on the right of the back three, Trafford came out to split Tarik Muharemovic and Jaka Bijol, offering them a passing option.
    — Beren Cross, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The admission, an aside in a wide-ranging interview, raised eyebrows in the recovery community given the star’s very public embrace of sobriety after joining a 12-step program following his 2016 split from wife Angelina Jolie.
    — Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of split
Verb
  • Unlike a normal brake change, there’s no need to disconnect a caliper.
    — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 14 Aug. 2026
  • And so, for instance, there’s surveys showing that Gen Z are the generation most likely to report disconnecting from their digital devices.
    — Jinae West, The Atlantic, 13 Aug. 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
  • Dam structures are known to sever historical migration corridors, trapping species between feeding grounds and spawning waters.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Three star directors have severed ties with White Cube’s New York gallery, Artnet News reports.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 7 Aug. 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 17 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on dissociate

Nglish: Translation of dissociate for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of lackadaisical

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Is “GIF” Pronounced “Jiff” or “Giff”?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
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
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All