Dismiss — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

Dismiss (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

1. to let go from office, service, or employment

   "the secretary was dismissed after it was discovered that she was stealing office supplies"

   similar: ax, bounce, can, cashier, discharge, fire, muster out, pink-slip, release, remove, retire, sack, terminate, turn off, send packing, show (someone) the door
   related: downsize, excess, furlough, lay off, trim, boot (out), chuck (out), drum (out), kick out, throw out, unseat, separate
   opposite: employ, engage, hire, retain, sign (up or on), take on
   near: keep, reemploy, rehire, contract, subcontract, recruit

2. to drive or force out

   "the sick boy's nurse dismissed the visitors so he could get some rest"

   similar: banish, boot (out), bounce, cast out, chase, drum (out), eject, expel, extrude, kick out, oust, out, rout, run off, throw out, turf (out) (chiefly British), turn out, give one the gate (slang), send packing
   related: deforce, deport, displace, dispossess, evict, exile, expatriate, ostracize, read out, shut out, ax, can, cashier, defenestrate, discharge, fire, muster out, pink-slip, release, remove, retire, sack, terminate
   near: accept, admit, receive, take, take in, welcome, entertain, harbor, house, lodge, shelter

3. to express scornfully one's low opinion of

   "critics dismissed his music as mere noise"

   similar: bad-mouth, belittle, cry down, decry, denigrate, deprecate, depreciate, derogate, diminish, dis (slang), discount, disparage, kiss off, minimize, play down, poor-mouth, put down, run down, talk down, trash, trash-talk, vilipend, write off, dump on
   related: discommend, abuse, scold, disapprove (of), dislike, censure, condemn, criticize, denounce, reprehend, reprobate, asperse, defame, malign, rip, slander, slur, traduce, vilify, discredit, disgrace
   opposite: acclaim, applaud, exalt, extol, glorify, laud, magnify, praise
   near: approve, countenance, endorse, favor, recommend, sanction, commend, compliment, eulogize