dispel
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to drive off in various directions; disperse; dissipate.
to dispel the dense fog.
- Antonyms:
- gather
-
to cause to vanish; alleviate.
to dispel her fears.
verb
Related Words
See scatter.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of dispel
First recorded in 1625–35; from Latin dispellere “to drive asunder,” equivalent to dis- dis- 1 + pellere “to drive”
Explanation
To dispel is to get rid of something that's bothering or threatening you, regardless of whether that's warts, worries, or wild dogs. The nifty thing about dispel is that you can use it when talking about emotional problems (such as worries and fears) as well as physical ones (such as wild dogs). Note, however, that when dispel is used in reference to physical foes, it often has the added meaning of scattering your opponents in all directions. So, while you can dispel a pack of wild dogs, you should just chase off or drive away a lone wolf. Good luck with that, by the way.
Vocabulary lists containing dispel
100 Words Every Middle Schooler Should Know
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300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
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Essential Academic Vocabulary for Middle School Students, List 5
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Higher AI investment forecasts from Big Tech companies were helping dispel fears raised earlier in the week about OpenAI’s spending.
From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026
In the past couple of weeks, he’s found himself working to dispel conspiracy theories.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 25, 2026
McDermott said that the RPO momentum should dispel bearish concerns that ServiceNow’s business will be hurt by the proliferation of cheaper AI tools.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 22, 2026
The 35-year-old, from Hebburn, South Tyneside, has now launched She Thrives, an online social community to dispel myths, but also to break down taboos about women's health.
From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026
Before we can answer these questions, we must dispel some misconceptions about the origins of food production and then reformulate the question.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
