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
1
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 notesIn 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
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like dispel.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- dispels
- Third person singular
- dispels
- Past tense
- dispelled
Etymology
From Latin dispellere, "to drive apart or scatter" — from dis- ("apart") + pellere ("to push, drive").
Synonyms
View more →Related words
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").
