verb

dispel

dih-SPEH

Dispel (verb) means to make fears, doubts, or false ideas disappear by showing they have no basis. Example: “The coach's calm words dispelled the team's nerves before the final.”

verb

To make fears, doubts, or false ideas disappear by showing they have no basis.

"The coach's calm words dispelled the team's nerves before the final."

"New evidence dispelled any doubt about who was responsible."

How to use dispel

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo get rid of a feeling, rumor, or doubt by proving it wrong.

Common pairings

dispel doubts dispel rumors dispel fears dispel a myth

Word forms

dispelled past tense, dispels plural, dispels singular

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Etymology

From Latin dispellere, "to drive apart or scatter" — from dis- ("apart") + pellere ("to push, drive").

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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scatter disperse dissipate run off break up drive out turn back drive off chase away drive away

Related words

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Frequently asked questions

What does “dispel” mean?

The word “dispel” means to make fears, doubts, or false ideas disappear by showing they have no basis. In plain terms, to get rid of a feeling, rumor, or doubt by proving it wrong.

How do you pronounce “dispel”?

“Dispel” is pronounced dih-SPEH ([dɪˈspɛɫ] in IPA).

How do you use “dispel” in a sentence?

Here is “dispel” used in a sentence: “The coach's calm words dispelled the team's nerves before the final.”

What part of speech is “dispel”?

“Dispel” is a verb.

Where does the word “dispel” come from?

The word “dispel” comes from Latin. From Latin dispellere, "to drive apart or scatter" — from dis- ("apart") + pellere ("to push, drive").

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