English vocabulary · C1
Disabuse
/ˌdɪs.əˈbjuːz/ · v.
It means to correct someone who has a wrong belief. You disabuse someone when you show them that what they think is simply not true.
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Example sentences
- The doctor disabused her of the idea that the drug was safe.
- His first week at work disabused him of every expectation he had.
Word origin and roots
from Latin
- dis — remove (from Latin)
- abuse — wrong use (from Latin)
Synonyms and nuances
- CORRECT — show someone they are wrong (Neutral & Direct)
- ENLIGHTEN — help someone understand the truth (Gentle & Informative)
- UNDECEIVE — remove a false idea (Revealing a Deception)
Similar words
- correct
- enlighten
- undeceive
Lesson notes
Disabuse. It means to correct someone who has a wrong belief. You disabuse someone when you show them that what they think is simply not true.
Similar words are correct, enlighten, and undeceive. Use disabuse when someone holds a false belief and needs to be clearly set straight.
The doctor disabused her of the idea that the drug was safe. His first week at work disabused him of every expectation he had.
From Latin. Dis- means remove. Abuse- means wrong use. To remove the wrong idea someone is using — that is to disabuse.