dispel
Americanverb (used with object)
-
dispels,
present (3rd person singular)
-
dispelled,
past participle, past
-
dispelling
present participle
-
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
Synonym Usage
See scatter.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
dispelsimple
-
dispelssimple
-
have dispelledperfect
-
has dispelledperfect
-
am dispellingprogressive
-
are dispellingprogressive
-
is dispellingprogressive
-
have been dispellingperfect progressive
-
has been dispellingperfect progressive
Past
-
dispelledsimple
-
had dispelledperfect
-
was dispellingprogressive
-
were dispellingprogressive
-
had been dispellingperfect progressive
Future
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
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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.
See Examples For:
The boots-on-the-ground approach has helped the health department dispel misinformation and build trust with the community, local health officials said.
From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026
No amount of wealth can dispel retirement worries.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 9, 2026
For Yonatan Freeman, an international relations expert at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the primary aim of the visit is to dispel reports of a cooling in relations between the allies.
From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026
The Journal previously reported that some current and former Fed officials worried the comments would deepen the stigma around the lending tool that the central bank has worked to dispel.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026
Martin and Ethel would invite a neighbor or two for cake to dispel any gossip or speculation.
From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead
A guru is one who dispels illusions, and there is perhaps no illusion so insistent, or potentially more harmful to the individual, than the illusion that he will live forever.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 9, 2026
The report also dispels a common view that guns are mainly owned by rural residents.
From BBC ● Dec. 19, 2025
For trans people like me, having an accurate ID dispels the daily fear of being outed when asked to present identification.
From Slate ● Feb. 21, 2025
A newly published copy of his death certificate dispels much of the mystery: According to that document, Valenzuela’s underlying cause of death was possibly related to a liver disease and liver failure.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 12, 2024
Medical science does not seal the earth, whose nether creatures seep out, hair by hair, disguised like the smoke that dispels them.
From "The Woman Warrior" by Maxine Hong Kingston
Through her media prominence and prolific output as an author, with a dozen books to her name, Steinem dispelled the stereotype of the humorless feminist simply by living.
From Salon ● Sep. 3, 2026
Twenty-three years after making his senior debut for Portugal, any thoughts Ronaldo-mania might be fading have been dispelled at this World Cup.
From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026
The ‘CBS Mornings’ co-host dispelled rumors of a possible departure, staying with the network amid a broader overhaul.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 5, 2026
In a recent blog post, Yardeni characterizes the current worries as ”AI derangement,” a fear that eventually will be dispelled.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 1, 2026
For him the fair had been a brilliant light that for a time dispelled the shadows that had accumulated around his life.
From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson
Our findings show clear benefits in key areas of healthy ageing, while also dispelling some of the myths surrounding its use.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 5, 2026
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said he recently held a 2-½-hour meeting with Khamenei, in a public message that appeared aimed at dispelling questions about whether the new leader is indeed alive and running the country.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 10, 2026
But, she said, the more time providers have to spend dispelling myths about Tylenol, the less time they have to discuss other important health issues.
From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2025
A 2024 study by Penn State researchers found that approximately one in eight adults enjoy intensely sour flavors, dispelling claims that extreme tartness is only favored by children.
From Salon ● Sep. 13, 2025
This had the immediate effect of dispelling the slight tension that had built in the room while Mr Harry Smith had been speaking.
From "The Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
