dismiss

USAGE SUMMARY

'dismiss' is a correct and usable word in written English.
It can be used to refer to the action of terminating someone's employment or terminating a contract or agreement. For example, "The board dismissed the executive from her position without severance pay."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Do not dismiss those ideas no matter how hard you think they are, because most of you do not have to walk that hard road with us".

The Guardian

Yet Piechowski could not dismiss his friend's plea.

The Guardian

I wouldn't dismiss the psychological and political impact of Ian Paisley being, in his terms, kicked around for 40 years by the establishment and then seeing an opportunity to be the establishment and being unable to resist it".

The Guardian

Targaryen manages to repeatedly outmanoeuvre and outwit scheming men who dominate the world of Game of Thrones and dismiss the idea that a woman might have the wherewithal to establish an empire.

The Guardian

Lord Hattersley is entitled to his views, which are well known.' Hattersley's comments will be difficult to dismiss.

The Guardian

David Cameron has used an Easter message to hit back at criticism of the coalition's policies from church leaders, urging them not to dismiss him as "devoid of morality".

The Guardian

George Osborne invoked his oath to tell the truth before a committee of MPs as he attempted to dismiss allegations that his decision to veto a currency union with an independent Scotland was a short-term campaigning tactic.

The Guardian

Nigel Farage had been expected to grab between 75 and 100 extra councillors at best, but added nearly 130. Labour MPs and activists, who had tried largely to ignore Ukip's impending arrival as the fourth party in British politics, veered between admitting that it had been hit and that Ed Miliband had to do better, and trying to dismiss Ukip as still so small as to be largely irrelevant.

The Guardian

Ed Miliband has ruled out agreeing to a so-called "confidence and supply" deal with the SNP as he moved to dismiss Tory warnings that Britain would face a constitutional crisis if the Scottish nationalists held the balance of power in a hung parliament.

The Guardian

It's become easy to dismiss Latham, and on cue, his statement that "the best way of minimising domestic violence is to minimise poverty" was was rightly howled down as simplistic, but also because it doesn't fit the acceptable narrative around this crime.

The Guardian - Opinion

It is increasingly concerning that Tory ministers seek to exaggerate the potential benefits of shale and dismiss genuine and legitimate concerns.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "dismiss" in formal writing, ensure the context clearly indicates whether you mean to reject an idea, end employment, or send someone away. Specificity enhances clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "dismiss" interchangeably with words like "ignore" or "overlook" when a more active rejection or termination is intended. "Dismiss" implies a deliberate act, while the others can suggest negligence.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "dismiss" is a verb. It's used to describe actions such as rejecting an idea, terminating employment, or sending someone away, as demonstrated in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Encyclopedias

0.5%

Wiki

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the word "dismiss" functions as a verb with several meanings: to reject, terminate, or disregard. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use. It appears most frequently in news and media contexts, with neutral formality. When writing, it is important to distinguish "dismiss" from similar words like "ignore" or "overlook". Alternative phrases include "reject", "disregard", and "fire", each carrying slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reject

Indicates a refusal to accept or consider something.

disregard

Implies ignoring or paying no attention to something.

fire

Refers specifically to terminating someone's employment.

terminate

Suggests formally ending something, like a contract or agreement.

lay off

Describes the temporary or permanent termination of employment, often due to economic reasons.

discount

Means to reduce the importance or credibility of something.

brush aside

Implies treating something as unimportant or not worthy of consideration.

send packing

Means to forcefully remove or reject someone.

throw out

Suggests discarding something physically or figuratively.

dissolve

Implies bringing something to an end, often referring to organizations or agreements.

FAQs

How can I use "dismiss" in a sentence?

You can use "dismiss" in a sentence to mean to reject or disregard something, for example, "The court "dismissed" the case". It can also mean to terminate someone's employment, as in, "The company "dismissed" several employees".

What can I say instead of "dismiss"?

You can use alternatives such as "reject", "disregard", or "fire" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "dismiss" or "disregard"?

"Dismiss" implies a deliberate act of rejecting or ending something, while "disregard" suggests ignoring or paying no attention. The correct choice depends on the intended meaning.

What's the difference between "dismiss" and "ignore"?

"Dismiss" means to actively reject or put something away, whereas "ignore" means to consciously avoid paying attention to something.