dispel

Everyday

1. To make a feeling, fear, doubt or false belief go away. tree →
2. (less common) To drive away or scatter something, like fog or clouds. tree →

In the lessons

In science and fact-checking, people dispel myths with evidence; in stories, a kind word dispels fear; phrases: «dispel a myth», «dispel fears», «dispel rumours».

Examples

• The scientist dispelled the myth that goldfish have a three-second memory. tree →
• Her smile dispelled my worries. tree →
• The sun soon dispelled the morning mist. tree →
• The teacher tried to dispel rumours about the school closing. tree →
• Turning on the light dispelled our fear of the dark. tree →
• The facts dispelled any doubt. tree →
• We wrote a leaflet to dispel common myths about bats. tree →
• However, he soon perceived her melancholy, and in a thousand ways strove to dispel the cloud, but in vain. tree →

Note

Double l in past forms: dispelled, dispelling. Spelling trap: only one «l» in dispel. Used with myths, fears, doubts, rumours, not with physical objects (you do not «dispel» a ball).