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

Relevance

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

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

Verb

Eventually the crowd dissipated, some to head to Arrowhead for the game itself, others to Fan Festival and still others to watch parties across the metro. — Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 25 June 2026 The Gen5 version adds vapor chamber cooling to dissipate heat more effectively during intensive workloads. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 July 2026 In front of a predominantly Brazilian crowd and with the haze of a pre-match pyrotechnic display still dissipating, Norway seemed to leap out to a lead in the first few minutes with a goal by Patrick Berg, but it was quickly ruled offside. — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 5 July 2026 Without a cohesive system that captures user data, builds robust retargeting pools, and systematically moves audiences toward action, that engagement quickly dissipates. — Gary Drenik, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for dissipate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dissipate

Verb

On the solstice, the first goal was to clear trash that had found its way onto the orchard, then form makeshift berms out of rocks dispersed around the space.

— Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
The San Jose Police Department has declared an unlawful assembly and in the name of the People of the State of California, order all those assembled at Santa Clara St and Almaden Ave to immediately disperse, which means to break up this assembly.

— Tim Fang, CBS News, 1 July 2026

Definition of disperse

Verb

During our time away, our neighbors visited with us at the hospital, looked after our house and came over daily to feed and spend time with our cat.

— Dawn M. Turner, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
American doctors are so conspicuously well-paid that a group of economic researchers spent years trying to figure out why.

— Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 5 July 2026

Definition of spend

Verb

His plan worked, and the bear darted to the side of the road before disappearing back into the woods.

— Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
Stock Chart IconStock chart icon Safe havens, in other words, have not disappeared but have become far less predictable.

— Lim Hui Jie,Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 3 July 2026

Definition of disappear

Noun

The form asks for the date and time of the watering, along with the waster’s address.

— Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 29 May 2026
The state Department of Environmental Protection is responding and will assist in the safe disposal of waster materials generated during the cleanup Morrisey said.

— Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 22 Apr. 2026

Definition of waster

Verb

The Padres, meanwhile, have lost six straight and given up 66 runs over the last six days, the most in such a span in franchise history.

— Liana Handler Follow, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
But water also carries the potential for danger, and parents who have lost a child to drowning are begging families to use caution.

— Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 3 July 2026

Definition of lose

Verb

Benning's cause of death was a fatal combination of a large amount of cocaine dissolved in alcohol, medical examiners testified during Taylor's trial.

— Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026
Plagued by criticism and scandal, it was eventually dissolved by Congress and replaced by a new commission that decided to mostly fund community celebrations.

— Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 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

But rental business owners like Zhao observed that the rental prices have begun to slide as novelty surrounding these stunt-performing androids fades.

— John Liu, CNN Money, 30 June 2026
The combination of hyaluronic and azelaic acid does wonders to fade dark spots, soothe redness, and deeply hydrate.

— Olivia Dubyak, InStyle, 30 June 2026

Definition of fade

Browse Nearby Words

dissing

dissipate

dissipated

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Dissipate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dissipate. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of dissipate

verb

noun

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on dissipate

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

gambol

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

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

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

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes