DISCARD Synonyms: 67 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'discard' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of discard are cast , junk , scrap , shed , and slough . While all these words mean "to get rid of," discard implies the letting go or throwing away of something that has become useless or superfluous though often not intrinsically valueless. // discard old clothes

Q: Where would 'cast' be a reasonable alternative to 'discard'?

The words cast and discard can be used in similar contexts, but cast , especially when used with off, away , or out , implies a forceful rejection or repudiation. // cast off her friends

Q: How are the words 'scrap' and 'junk' related as synonyms of 'discard'?

Both scrap and junk imply throwing away or breaking up as worthless in existent form. // scrap all the old ways // would junk our educational system

Q: How do 'shed' and 'slough' relate to one another, in the sense of 'discard'?

Shed and slough imply a throwing off of something both useless and encumbering and often suggest a consequent renewal of vitality or luster. // shed a bad habit // finally sloughed off the depression

discard 1 of 2

noun

ˈdis-ˌkärd

Definition of discard

as in reject

something separated from a group or lot for not being as good as the others toss all of your discards in the garbage

Synonyms & Similar Words

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discard

2 of 2

verb

dis-ˈkärd

as in to dump

to get rid of as useless or unwanted discard an old, torn sweater

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word discard different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of discard are cast, junk, scrap, shed, and slough. While all these words mean "to get rid of," discard implies the letting go or throwing away of something that has become useless or superfluous though often not intrinsically valueless.

discard old clothes

Where would cast be a reasonable alternative to discard?

The words cast and discard can be used in similar contexts, but cast, especially when used with off, away, or out, implies a forceful rejection or repudiation.

cast off her friends

How are the words scrap and junk related as synonyms of discard?

Both scrap and junk imply throwing away or breaking up as worthless in existent form.

scrap all the old ways

would junk our educational system

How do shed and slough relate to one another, in the sense of discard?

Shed and slough imply a throwing off of something both useless and encumbering and often suggest a consequent renewal of vitality or luster.

shed a bad habit

finally sloughed off the depression

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 discard

Noun

Li has dedicated freezer bags for different dishes, like vegetable scraps for soups or fruit discards for smoothies. — Emily Siner, NPR, 27 June 2026 Tracking discards, reading opponents, weighing probabilities and managing your own hand all happen at once, every turn. — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 24 June 2026

Verb

Temperatures reached 122 degrees Fahrenheit for about six hours, forcing stores to discard fresh and frozen goods. — John Leicester, Arkansas Online, 15 Oct. 2026 Keitel’s arrival meant discarding the work Ferrara and Walken had done together. — Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for discard

Recent Examples of Synonyms for discard

Noun

All three are crime drama-thrillers, the most exportable and ordered of program types, but all three reject tropes of the genre.

— John Hopewell, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
Pollock's rejects were the source material for Bald Eagle, according to Kumar.

— Anastasia Tsioulcas, NPR, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of reject

Verb

Analysts are perking up about CoreWeave, even though investors are dumping shares and interest rates are rising in the economy.

— Tobias Burns, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
Republicans have dumped hundreds of millions into the race to support Paxton, even as there have been leaks of audio clips of Paxton appearing to disparage national involvement in the race.

— Caroline Linton, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of dump

Verb

The latest unit retains the same first six forward ratios as the outgoing Carrera T’s manual transmission, but ditches its predecessor’s somewhat awkward and largely superfluous seventh gear.

— Bradley Iger, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2026
Josh O’Connor has stepped out in a perfectly boxy and slouchy gray pinstriped suit, while Benito Skinner has embraced the timeless three-piece suit—only to ditch the blazer, throw it over his shoulders, and rock the vest.

— Christian Allaire, Vogue, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of ditch

Noun

The ability for anyone to generate strategy, code, or creative work in seconds effectively filled in the moats built on blitzscaling overnight.

— Matt Alt, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
But, the heartbreak would come sneaking around the bend over what might be the wildest 20 seconds of recent Big Ten memory, thanks to the insane final few minutes.

— Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of second

Verb

If last week’s Atlanta News First debate discouraged direct confrontations, Tuesday’s Atlanta Press Club showdown gave the two rivals room to unload on each other.

— Adam Beam, AJC.com, 14 Oct. 2026
Sulaeman said that a tanker carrying fuel to Bali suffered an anchor problem while preparing to unload cargo, delaying deliveries to the island’s main fuel terminals.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of unload

Noun

When a property manager rejected a recommended rent, the adviser reviewed the rejection and the justification.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2026
If judgment is causing premature rejection of an employee’s approach, the manager can ask what evidence actually supports that judgment.

— Thomas Lim, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of rejection

Verb

As music factories and generative tools take over entry-level work, newcomers risk losing a vital foothold in the industry.

— Ben Croll, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
So instead of making teams whole each time, the NFL now just pays teams’ travel expenses for their international game under the rationale that every team will lose a home game—and, in turn, home game ticket revenue—during that time.

— Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of lose

Browse Nearby Words

disbursing

discard

discarded

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Style

“Discard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discard. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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