dispel
[dih-spel]
- to drive off in various directions; disperse; dissipate: to dispel the dense fog.
- to cause to vanish; alleviate: to dispel her fears.
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Origin of dispel
Synonyms
See more synonyms for dispel on Thesaurus.com1, 2. See scatter.
Antonyms
1. gather.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for dispel
Contemporary Examples
The police themselves do little to dispel or discourage this lionized portrayal.
He does, however, attempt to dispel some of the myths that have emerged from hearsay and rumor over the last century.
Swiss leaders also dispel the “slippery slope” idea by repeatedly rejecting substantial minimum wage increases.
But one look at the film is enough to dispel all notions of Svengali.
There is no questioning their fellowship and effort to dispel misplaced preconceptions.
Historical Examples
But the lapse of a few months will confirm or dispel their fears.
Whatever we do, we cannot dispel the darkness by a frenzied denunciation of war.
Mountain MeditationsL. Lind-af-Hageby
The force of an idea is threatening to dispel the force of arms.
Mountain MeditationsL. Lind-af-Hageby
I prayed and prayed, and prayed again to my god to dispel your work.
Things as They AreAmy Wilson-Carmichael
It told her of the existence of proofs that must dispel all doubt.
The Sea-HawkRaphael Sabatini
dispel
- (tr) to disperse or drive away
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Word Origin
C17: from Latin dispellere, from dis- 1 + pellere to drive
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for dispel
v.
c.1400, dispelen, from Latin dispellere "drive apart," from dis- "away" (see dis-) + pellere "to drive, push" (see pulse (n.1)). Since the meaning is "to drive away in different directions" it should not have as an object a single, indivisible thing (you can dispel suspicion, but not an accusation). Related: Dispelled; dispelling.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper