to wave off

Examples

• All

• "Kwan waves off his apologies.

  Fiction book (1996)

• Finch simply waves off the question.

  Fiction book (1999)

• "Nah," Dale waved off the question.

  Fiction book (2002)

• "Julie waved off the objection."

  Fiction book (1994)

• " What's that supposed to mean?" McCaleb waved off the question.

  Fiction book (2001)

• "Bu-bu-bu!" Du Lili waves off any lame American excuses.

  Fiction book (1996)

• Tilly's hand was shaking as he waved off the old man's hospitality.

  Fiction book (1994)

• Fagan, annoyed, waved off his chatter.

  Fiction book (2000)

• Robbie waved off their invitation to join us and plugged his headphones into the CD player.

  Fiction book (1992)

• She waved off the advice, believing she could handle everything on her own.

Synonyms

I

to ignore

vsto wave off

∞ 1.0

Choose not to pay attention to someone or something

is to decide something lacks importance rather than only ignoring it

A

to abandon

vsto wave off

401 3.8

Stop supporting an idea or plan

is the immediate judgment of unimportance rather than long term abandonment

L

to let it go

vsto wave off

370 3.5

To choose not to react to something annoying

is more about judging importance than choosing not to respond

D

to dismiss

vsto wave off

332 3.0

To refuse to accept an idea or claim

expresses the same refusal but as the key general description

T

to throw out

vsto wave off

163 4.2

To stop considering a case, request, or proposal in court

is the general deeming of unimportance, not limited to formal acts

D

to disregard

vsto wave off

119 3.9

Ignore something or someone on purpose

is the general act of rejecting importance rather than merely ignoring

B

to blow off

vsto wave off

• Informal

103 7.0

To not attend or take part in something you should, often to do something else instead

is the decision of low importance rather than physical absence or avoidance

D

to discount

vsto wave off

75 4.2

To treat something as unimportant and ignore it

is the basic act of treating something as not important

D

to dismiss as

vsto wave off

59 4.6

To say someone or something is not worth taking seriously without careful thought

focuses on general refusal to give importance rather than labeling

P

to pass over

vsto wave off

28 4.1

To ignore someone or something on purpose

is about deeming unimportant rather than simply omitting or skipping

S

to shrug off

vsto wave off

27 3.9

Treat something as unimportant and ignore it

is the general refusal to give importance, not the coping aspect

B

to brush off

vsto wave off

• Informal

22 3.9

To ignore what someone says or feels as unimportant

is the core refusal to give importance without the casual attitude

T

to take lightly

vsto wave off

22 4.2

To treat something as not important or serious

is the basic act of judging lack of importance rather than underestimation

G

to go out the window

vsto wave off

• Informal

21 7.5

An idea or hope that is suddenly ignored and can no longer happen

is the general act of judging unimportance rather than sudden loss of value

T

to turn away from

vsto wave off

15 3.7

To refuse to have anything to do with someone or something

focuses on refusal of thought specifically rather than simple unimportance

B

to brush aside

vsto wave off

13 4.5

Ignore a person or thing because you think they are not important

focuses on the act of denying importance without the casual tone

C

to cast aside

vsto wave off

• Informal

11 3.7

Reject or ignore people and things you no longer want

is the simple judgment of lacking importance rather than disposal

P

to push aside

vsto wave off

7 4.1

Refuse to think about something, for example worries or objections

is the simpler act of deeming something unimportant rather than mental pushing

P

to pooh-pooh

vsto wave off

5 9.5

To treat an idea or opinion as unimportant and not worth taking seriously

is a neutral refusal rather than one showing contempt

W

to wave away

vsto wave off

4 5.3

Treat a question or problem as not important

is the general refusal to treat something as important

S

to sweep aside

vsto wave off

3 4.7

To ignore an opinion or worry as unimportant

emphasizes refusal of importance rather than the following action

G

to give someone the brush-off

vsto wave off

• Informal

2 7.5

To reject someone quickly and rudely

is the general refusal to give importance without the rude tone

P

to pass off

vsto wave off

2 4.1

To treat criticism or an insult as not important

is the broader act of judging something unimportant beyond criticism

T

to throw overboard

vsto wave off

1 6.0

To reject or get rid of something no longer needed

is the simpler act of judging lack of importance rather than physical removal

W

to wave aside

vsto wave off

1 6.1

To treat something as not important and ignore it

is the broad act of rejecting importance without focusing on gesture

W

to wave one's hand dismissively

vsto wave off

6.7

To move your hand to show you do not care

is the verbal or conceptual refusal of importance rather than a gesture

F

to frig it

vsto wave off

• Informal

9.9

To decide not to worry about something and let it go

is the neutral act of judging unimportance rather than the informal attitude

Antonyms

C

to consider

∞ 1.1

To think carefully before making a decision

How Dismissive

to reject

839 1.9

to dismiss

332 3.0

to wave off

• Informal

2 5.9

to acknowledge

286 3.9

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology