What does dispel mean?

Definitions for dispel
dɪˈspɛldis·pel

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word dispel.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. chase away, drive out, turn back, drive away, dispel, drive off, run offverb

    force to go away; used both with concrete and metaphoric meanings

    "Drive away potential burglars"; "drive away bad thoughts"; "dispel doubts"; "The supermarket had to turn back many disappointed customers"

  2. disperse, dissipate, dispel, break up, scatterverb

    to cause to separate and go in different directions

    "She waved her hand and scattered the crowds"

Wiktionary

  1. dispelverb

    To drive away by scattering, or to cause to vanish; to clear away; to banish; to dissipate.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. To Dispelverb

    To drive by scattering; to dissipate.

    Etymology: dispello, Latin.

    If the night
    Have gathered aught of evil, or conceal’d,
    Disperse it, as now light dispels the dark. John Milton.

    When the spirit brings light into our minds, it dispels darkness: we see it, as we do that of the sun at noon, and need not the twilight of reason to shew it. John Locke.

ChatGPT

  1. dispel

    Dispel refers to the act of making a doubt, feeling, belief, or rumor disappear or go away, typically through reasoning or strong evidence. It may also mean to drive away or cause to vanish, often used in the context of fears or negative emotions.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Dispelverb

    to drive away by scattering, or so to cause to vanish; to clear away; to banish; to dissipate; as, to dispel a cloud, vapors, cares, doubts, illusions

  2. Etymology: [L. dispellere; dis- + pellere to push, drive. See Pulse a beating.]

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Dispel

    dis-pel′, v.t. to drive away: to make disappear: to banish:—pr.p. dispel′ling; pa.p. dispelled′. [L. dispellĕredis, away, pellĕre, to drive.]

Matched Categories

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

Anagrams for dispel »

  1. diples

  2. disple

  3. lisped

  4. spiled

How to pronounce dispel?

How to say dispel in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of dispel in Chaldean Numerology is: 6

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of dispel in Pythagorean Numerology is: 2

Examples of dispel in a Sentence

  1. Bryant McGill, Stanford Lectures on Poetry, 1990:

    In order to deserve, we must pay our dues and steadily work for perfection. We must relish in struggle, and relinquish pride. We must dispel fear and seek enlightenment. We must shun division and honor love. We must know our hearts and seek to understand others. We must try, live, create, feel, grow and love.

  2. Volkmar Denner:

    It will depend, though, on an active campaign for diesel to quickly dispel the current uncertainty that many consumers are feeling.

  3. Regina Rice:

    It is understandable that Ernie's family is concerned at this very sad time. However, the record and those closest to Ernie Banks will dispel any iota of concern regarding my relationship with Ernie Banks and Ernie Banks trust in me to carrying out Ernie Banks wishes.

  4. Tryon Edwards:

    To rejoice in another's prosperity is to give content to your lot; to mitigate another's grief is to alleviate or dispel your own.

  5. Kim Dong-yub:

    Announcing his inspection of the new submarine is also to build internal solidarity, to dispel people's concerns about national security, reassure them, and boost military morale.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

dispel#10000#40623#100000

Translations for dispel

From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary

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"dispel." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 17 Jan. 2025. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/dispel>.

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    (of a glutinous liquid such as paint) not completely dried and slightly sticky to the touch
    A tacky
    B ambidextrous
    C extroversive
    D ectomorphic

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