Synonyms

disabuse

American

[dis-uh-byooz] / ˌdɪs əˈbyuz /

verb (used with object)

disabused, disabusing

to free (a person) from deception or error.

disabuse British

/ ˌdɪsəˈbjuːz /

verb

to rid (oneself, another person, etc) of a mistaken or misguided idea; set right

"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

Other Word Forms

disabusal noun

Etymology

Origin of disabuse

From the French word désabuser, dating back to 1605–15. See dis- ¹, abuse

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.

We have to disabuse ourselves of that idea.

From Slate • Dec. 26, 2025

And while race and class aren’t explicitly addressed, it’s impossible not to view our protagonist’s actions through a ready-made privilege that Eastwood doesn’t disabuse us of pondering.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 31, 2024

He added: “We’re taking a look at it. But I would disabuse you at this early hour of any connection to Ukraine.”

From New York Times • Mar. 22, 2024

I hate to disabuse you of that notion.”

From Salon • Jan. 23, 2024

There was nothing that one could do to disabuse them of this notion.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023