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
But that doesn't mean Adams' angst against Xavier has dissipated. Madeline Mitchell, The Enquirer, 3 July 2025 Meanwhile, the president’s goodwill toward another nation appears to have dissipated. Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 2 July 2025 On five occasions, the smell had dissipated by the time agencies' workers arrived. Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 2 July 2025 Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Barry dissipated over Mexico, and Tropical Storm Flossie has formed off southern Mexico’s Pacific coast. Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 30 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for dissipate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dissipate
Verb
  • The package comes with a funky plastic lens that pops over the front of the projector's optics to disperse the light show in interesting patterns.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 9 July 2025
  • When dry, the seed heads shatter to disperse the seed.
    Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 July 2025
Verb
  • On July 12, 2015, Tiffany spent the day with her family.
    Alex Gurley, People.com, 12 July 2025
  • The data doesn't directly track Amazon's sales, but suggests demand for Prime Day will outpace last year's event during which online shoppers spent a record-setting $14.2 billion, according to Adobe.
    Mike Snider, USA Today, 12 July 2025
Verb
  • The child disappeared in June of that year but wasn’t reported missing until July when Caylee’s grandmother learned that Anthony hadn’t seen her daughter in a month.
    Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 12 July 2025
  • The authors hope to continue to investigate how other developmental genes across other sea spider species may have appeared or disappeared throughout their life history, per Earth.com, potentially affecting their abdomens.
    Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 July 2025
Noun
  • The biggest water waster, though, is cleaning during installation and use.
    IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 13 Nov. 2014
  • Who is a time waster and who is your next biggest client?
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
Verb
  • But revived Western cooperation on Iran might at least give those inside the Trump administration who still prize America’s alliances hope that all is not yet lost.
    John R. Bolton, The Atlantic, 9 July 2025
  • Dozens of students gathered Tuesday evening at a vigil held in front of the University of Texas Tower, hosted by the University Panhellenic Council and Zeta Tau Alpha sorority's Kappa chapter, to mourn the lives lost.
    Austin American Statesman, Austin American Statesman, 9 July 2025
Verb
  • After allowing time for your lips to settle — typically a couple of weeks — a medical professional can reevaluate the symmetry, contour, and firmness of your lips and use hyaluronidase to dissolve some or all of the filler in a certain spot.
    Carlos Wolf, Miami Herald, 11 July 2025
  • Give your detergent a chance to dissolve in warm water before adding your clothes.
    Kathy Barnes, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 July 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
  • Sunscreen, chlorine, saltwater, and even rough drying habits can wear down the fabric, leaving colors faded and suits stretched out.
    Gabi De la Rosa, Southern Living, 5 July 2025
  • The spark seemed to fade, then the extra effort went AWOL.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dissipate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dissipate. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on dissipate

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!