dismiss
12 synonyms and 1 antonym for dismiss, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To fire someone from a job, or to formally end someone's employment.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
let go
displace
Antonyms
How to use dismiss
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
dismiss a claim
dismiss an employee
dismiss out of hand
Etymology
From Latin dimissus, "sent away," the past participle of dimittere (dis- + mittere, "to send").
Full origin of dismiss →Frequently asked questions
What does “dismiss” mean?
The word “dismiss” means to fire someone from a job, or to formally end someone's employment. In plain terms, to send away, reject, or refuse to give something further consideration.
How do you pronounce “dismiss”?
“Dismiss” is pronounced dihz-MIHS (/dɪsˈmɪs/ in IPA).
How do you use “dismiss” in a sentence?
Here is “dismiss” used in a sentence: “She was dismissed after repeated lateness.”
What part of speech is “dismiss”?
“Dismiss” is a verb.
Where does the word “dismiss” come from?
The word “dismiss” comes from Latin. From Latin dimissus, "sent away," the past participle of dimittere (dis- + mittere, "to send").
Is “dismiss” a common word?
“Dismiss” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “dismiss” have?
“Dismiss” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to fire someone from a job, or to formally end someone's employment.
What is the difference between dismiss and fire?
Dismiss is a somewhat more formal or neutral term for ending someone's employment, often used in official or legal contexts. Fire is the more common, everyday word for the same action, especially in casual conversation.
What is the difference between dismiss and ignore?
Dismiss means to actively refuse to take something seriously or judge it not worth considering, often after some thought. Ignore simply means to pay no attention to something at all, without necessarily evaluating it first.
