dispel

What does “dispel” mean?

verb.to make (a doubt, feeling, or belief) disappear.

SAT Usage

this verb is often found in passages discussing emotions, beliefs, or misconceptions, usually in contexts involving reassurance or clarification. It emphasizes the active process of removing uncertainty or fear, distinguishing it from similar words like "dismiss," which lacks the connotation of alleviating or soothing the underlying concern.

Common Confusions

Dispel implies an active effort to eliminate doubt or fear, while dismiss usually suggests a lack of consideration or acknowledgment of those feelings.

Example Sentences

• The speech helped dispel widespread fears about the new policy.

• The new evidence helped dispel rumors quickly.

Word Parts: How to Remember “dispel”

Break “dispel” into its parts: di- (apart, away). Knowing roots like these helps you decode unfamiliar SAT vocabulary.

• Prefix: di- apart, away (Latin)