dispel

dis·pel

verb \di-ˈspel\

dis·pelleddis·pel·ling

Definition of DISPEL

transitive verb

: to drive away by or as if by scattering : dissipate <dispel a rumor>

Examples of DISPEL

1. This report should dispel any doubts you have about the plan.
2. She made an official statement to dispel any rumors about her retirement.
3. The experience dispelled some of our fears about the process.

Origin of DISPEL

Middle English, from Latin dispellere, from dis- + pellere to drive, beat — more at felt

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to DISPEL

Synonyms: clear out, disband, scatter, disperse, dissipate, squander

Antonyms: assemble, cluster, collect, concentrate, congregate, gather, ingather

Related Words: break up, isolate, part, segregate, separate, split (up); diffuse, disseminate, diverge, spread

Near Antonyms: agglutinate, conglomerate; unify, unite

[+]more[-]hide

See Synonym Discussion at scatter

Rhymes with DISPEL

band shell, barbell, Becquerel, Blackwell, bluebell, bombshell, bridewell, cadelle, cartel, chandelle, Chanel, clamshell, compel, cormel, cornel, corral, cowbell, cupel, diel, doorbell, dry cell, dry well, dumbbell, duxelles, ear shell, eggshell, excel, expel, farewell, fat cell, foretell, fuel cell, gazelle, germ cell, Glaspell, gromwell, groundswell, half shell, handbell, hard sell, hard-shell, harebell, hotel, impel, indwell, inkwell, Jarrell, jurel, Kandel, lampshell, lapel, Mandel, marcel, maxwell, Maxwell, micelle, misspell, morel, motel, nacelle, nerve cell, Nobel, noel, nouvelle, nutshell, oil well, Orel, Orwell, outsell, pall-mall, Parnell, pastel, pell-mell, pixel, pointelle, Ponselle, presell, propel, quenelle, rakehell, rappel, Ravel, rebel, refel, repel, respell, retell, riel, rondel, Roswell, saurel, scalpel, seashell, sequel, sleigh bell, soft sell, soft-shell, solgel, speedwell, spinel, stairwell, star shell, stem cell, tooth shell, unsell, unwell, upwell, wind-bell