DISSIPATE Synonyms: 95 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

dissipate 1 of 2

verb

ˈdi-sə-ˌpāt

Definition of dissipate

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to spend

to use up carelessly dissipated the family fortune in reckless business ventures

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

dissipate

2 of 2

noun

as in waster

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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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

Verb

Josephine should dissipate by Sunday evening when forecasters expect it to be absorbed by a new area of low pressure currently developing to its northeast, according to the hurricane center. — Robin Webb, Sun Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026 When it gets distracted by lesser narrative matters, the heat dissipates. — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026 But at this distance the jet’s energy wouldn’t have dissipated much during its voyage through space. — Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026 During the filming of an explosion scene featuring him alongside his co-star Leonard Nimoy, the stage doors were accidentally left closed, preventing the blast from dissipating properly. — Ashley Hume , Larry Fink, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dissipate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dissipate

Verb

For an intervention dispersed through a harbor and out to sea, that may be as close as the ocean gets to a meter reading.

— Alec Luhn, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse rioters, many with their faces covered, who clashed with police, looted stores and set property on fire in central Milan on Saturday.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of disperse

Verb

Successful candidates will then be invited to spend a day at the bank’s offices where they are tested on banking regulation, their use of AI, and their ability to build calculations.

— Sam Birchall, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
The Finnish Government has granted Posiva Oy an operating license for the world’s first permanent underground repository for spent nuclear fuel.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of spend

Verb

To shoppers, the chain disappears, until next September or so, when another store pops up somewhere in the neighborhood.

— Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
Two experienced military observers described a silent craft that performed abrupt maneuvers before disappearing.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of disappear

Noun

On the other, evidence suggests this pair of habitual time-wasters were commonly found on the floor, running laughter through a Yamaha SPX90 effects processor for kicks and strumming the same note for 40-odd minutes.

— Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 18 Oct. 2026
The form asks for the date and time of the watering, along with the waster’s address.

— Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 29 May 2026

Definition of waster

Verb

Meta Platforms, which is pushing its Muse AI agent, lost 7% after reporting stronger revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected, though its profit fell short.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
The distance between pilot and production is where a lot of companies are losing footing.

— Chris Koehler, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of lose

Verb

Eventually, committee members discussed dissolving the committee or resigning from the board if Zuckerberg wouldn’t make concessions for the benefit of all Class A shareholders.

— Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
The 2026 Best of Beauty Award winner combines gentle lactic acid with the brand's Tri-Enzyme Technology (papain, protease, subtilisin) to dissolve dead skin cells without disrupting the moisture barrier.

— Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of dissolve

Noun

To be a valid spendthrift trust in Illinois, three factors must be met.

— Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2026
The split screen of Bezos and his spendthrift wife, Lauren Sánchez, frolicking everywhere — including Paris Fashion Week — while the tech mogul defiles the crown jewel nurtured by Ben Bradlee and Kay Graham is sickening.

— Maureen Dowd, Mercury News, 3 Feb. 2026

Definition of spendthrift

Verb

Brown, though, didn't quite let perception fade away a couple of days later.

— CBS News, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026
The question now is whether shoppers counting every dollar will keep paying for products like cashmere-soft diapers once the novelty fades and if inflation keeps biting.

— Phil Wahba, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of fade

Browse Nearby Words

dissing

dissipate

dissipated

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“Dissipate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dissipate. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of dissipate

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noun

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