dissipate

[ dis-uh-peyt ]

verb (used with object)

, dis·si·pat·ed, dis·si·pat·ing.

1. to scatter in various directions; disperse; dispel.

   Antonyms: unite

2. to spend or use wastefully or extravagantly; squander; deplete:

   to dissipate one's talents; to dissipate a fortune on high living.

verb (used without object)

, dis·si·pat·ed, dis·si·pat·ing.

1. to become scattered or dispersed; be dispelled; disintegrate:

   The sun shone and the mist dissipated.

   Synonyms: vanish, disappear

   Antonyms: unite

2. to indulge in extravagant, intemperate, or dissolute pleasure.

dissipate

/ ˈdɪsɪˌpeɪt /

verb

1. to exhaust or be exhausted by dispersion
2. tr to scatter or break up
3. intr to indulge in the pursuit of pleasure

Derived Forms

• ˈdissiˌpative, adjective
• ˈdissiˌpater, noun

Other Words From

• dissi·pater dissi·pator noun
• dissi·pative adjective
• dis·si·pa·tiv·i·ty [dis-, uh, -p, uh, -, tiv, -i-tee], noun
• non·dissi·pative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dissipate¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin dissipātus (past participle of dissipāre, dissupāre “to scatter”); -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of dissipate¹

C15: from Latin dissipāre to disperse, from dis- ¹+ supāre to throw

Synonym Study

See scatter.

Example Sentences

Congress passed four bills totaling an unprecedented $3 trillion in aid in the spring, but since then the bipartisan urgency that existed at the beginning of the pandemic has dissipated and the Senate hasn’t passed a related bill since.

From Washington Post

Teddy is likely to strengthen as it heads towards Bermuda, while Vicky is expected to dissipate by the end of the week.

From Popular-Science

In perhaps a stroke of good luck in the midst of this string of weather extremes, Marco dissipated instead.

From Science News

As of Tuesday, smoke from the fire dissipated some but not enough to quell concerns from community members.

From Voice of San Diego

Indoor settings dominate, partly because the virus hit during winter, when people spend most of their time indoors, and partly because in outdoor settings an abundant flow of fresh air helps dissipate virus particles exhaled by an infected person.

From Science News

Tuesday night saw a peaceful protest dissipate, only for more unrest to occur shortly after.

From The Daily Beast

It will dissipate support for building the coalition and sustaining its efforts over the coming years.

From The Daily Beast

Then it can either dissipate and you become friends again, or you become more than friends.

From The Daily Beast

If we aspire to that personally and legislate for it publicly, the ugliness will dissipate.

From The Daily Beast

“I think that the skepticism and the cynicism that she had began to dissipate over time,” McKeon says.

From The Daily Beast

Stanley was of a somewhat eccentric turn of mind, and seldom allowed his thoughts to dissipate without taking action of some kind.

From Project Gutenberg

For a time I attributed your reserve to diffidence, and trusted that time and my efforts would dissipate it.

From Project Gutenberg

May they remain so, till the pure light of the gospel shall dissipate the darkness of fanaticism and superstition!

From Project Gutenberg

Shall there be no reserved power in the empire to supply a deficiency which may weaken, divide, and dissipate the whole?

From Project Gutenberg

Resolution and decision ought to dissipate such restraints, and to leave men free at once to act upon their own convictions.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• dispel
• disperse
• dissolve
• evaporate
• spread
• vanish