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

The fog should gradually lift and dissipate around 9 am EDT this morning. — Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 22 Aug. 2026 Then life returns to normal, the energy dissipates, and those hours in shul leave little mark on the year itself. — Risa Polansky Shiman, Sun Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2026 Theorists had connected the viscosity of the soup, which enabled it to dissipate energy, to the black hole’s ability to gobble up energy and hide it. — Charlie Wood, Quanta Magazine, 17 Aug. 2026 The viciousness of Manson’s crimes left a lasting mark on American culture and Manson himself achieved a perverse popularity — which has not dissipated in the years since his death. — Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 15 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dissipate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dissipate

Verb

Smotrich and his partners have dispersed new settlements in places with high tactical importance, deliberately separating areas under Palestinian control to disrupt the territorial continuity that could one day form the basis of a Palestinian state.

— Amos Harel, Foreign Affairs, 2 Sep. 2026
But within seconds, an air raid alert sounded, and the crowd dispersed.

— ABC News, ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of disperse

Verb

Robert spent the prior six years with Chicago, hitting 38 home runs and stealing 20 bases in 2023, his best season and lone All-Star appearance.

— Will Sammon, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026
While higher earners had been spending more using credit cards, the institute said the gap across income classes began narrowing in May of this year.

— Alex Harring, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of spend

Verb

Several parents previously told the Democrat-Gazette and other local media that the couple then disappeared and stopped responding to emails or phone calls.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Sep. 2026
The layered structure disappeared completely after 50 minutes.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 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 Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimates that over a million children have lost food benefits since July 2025, when the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was signed into law.

— Juliana Kim, NPR, 3 Sep. 2026
The Buffaloes lost seven of their final eight games, including a 53-7 loss to Utah and a 52-17 loss to Arizona.

— Christopher Kamrani, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of lose

Verb

The highest-ticket item is a funnel-neck jacket in rich chocolate sheep leather that dissolves into black toward the waist (399€), which can be paired with a matching pencil skirt.

— Tina Isaac-Goizé, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2026
The alternative approach is hydrometallurgy, which dissolves the metals in acid.

— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 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

As his memories begin to fade, he's left in a panic, not wanting to lose everything.

— Grace Dean, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2026
It was designed to give Hawthorne’s fading downtown a boost with three major department stores — JCPenney in addition to the Broadway and Montgomery Ward — as well as numerous shops and a movie theater.

— Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of fade

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dissing

dissipate

dissipated

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“Dissipate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dissipate. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of dissipate

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noun

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