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Glite Dictionary
🔀 To make less alike 🔤 To change sounds
to dissimilate

to dissimilate

9.8
Make things less similar in style or form
  • verb
  • /dɪˈsɪməˌleɪt/
translation icon : diferenciar
  • As they grew apart, their interests dissimilated significantly.

Examples

  • The two cultures began to dissimilate over time.

  • The artist chose to dissimilate the two styles within his new painting.

  • During language evolution, certain speech sounds dissimilate to make words easier to pronounce.

  • If the twins start dressing differently, they will dissimilate their appearance.

  • During language evolution, certain speech sounds dissimilate to make words easier to pronounce.

  • If the twins start dressing differently, they will dissimilate their appearance.

  • As they grew apart, their interests dissimilated significantly.

Synonyms

to differ
vsto dissimilate
152 2.6

To be different from another person or thing in some way

involves making or becoming less similar rather than just stating a difference
to differentiate
vsto dissimilate
71 4.4

To show or notice how things are different

focuses on creating divergence in form or character rather than only noting differences
to diverge
vsto dissimilate
19 6.8

To move apart and also become different, like roads or opinions

causes or becomes less similar in form or character

Antonyms

to assimilate
77 6.1

Become similar to other people by joining their group and learning their customs

How Different

to diverge
19 6.8
to dissimilate
9.8
to change
∞ 1.0
to alter
493 2.5
to vary
239 2.5

Surface Forms

dissimilate infinitive
dissimilated past
dissimilated past participle
dissimilating present participle
dissimilates third person singular

Morphology

dissimilate = dissimilar (semi-transparent) = dis + simil + ate

The verb is reasonably interpretable as 'make or become dissimilar' from the adjective 'dissimilar', though the Latinate formation is less obvious than everyday English derivation.

Etymology

The word dissimilate comes from dis- meaning 'not' and similar meaning 'alike'. So, to dissimilate is to make things less alike or to cause them to become different.