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dispel

/dəˈspɛl/

/dɪˈspɛl/

Other forms: dispelled; dispelling; dispels

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.

Definitions of dispel
  1. verb
    cause to separate and go in different directions
    synonyms: break up, disperse, dissipate, scatter
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    types:
    disband
    cause to break up or cease to function
    type of:
    divide, separate
    make a division or separation
  2. verb
    force to go away; used both with concrete and metaphoric meanings
    dispel doubts”
    synonyms: chase away, drive away, drive off, drive out, run off, turn back
    drive out, force out, rouse, rout out
    force or drive out
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    types:
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    frighten
    drive out by frightening
    fire
    drive out or away by or as if by fire
    clear the air
    dispel differences or negative emotions
    banish
    drive away
    shoo, shoo away, shoo off
    drive away by crying `shoo!'
    type of:
    displace, move
    cause to move or shift into a new position or place, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘dispel'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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