You think you know how to use dismiss in a sentence. Honestly, most people do. We see it in legal dramas where a judge shouts it at a lawyer, or we hear it in HR meetings when someone loses their job. But the word is sneakier than that. It carries a heavy weight of psychology and social dynamics that a simple dictionary definition usually skips over.
If you’re just looking for a quick grammar fix, sure, it’s a verb. You dismiss an idea. You dismiss a class. You dismiss a person. But there is a massive difference between dismissing a notification on your phone and dismissing a person’s trauma. One is a digital habit; the other is a relational disaster.
Words have teeth.
The Nuance of Dismissing Ideas vs. People
When you use dismiss in a sentence to describe a social interaction, you’re usually talking about power. Think about the last time you were in a meeting. Maybe you suggested a new way to handle a project, and your boss just waved their hand and moved on. They dismissed you. They didn't just reject the idea; they made the idea—and by extension, you—seem unworthy of consideration.
That’s the nuance. To dismiss is to treat something as unworthy of serious thought.
- "The committee chose to dismiss the proposal without even reading the executive summary."
- "Don't dismiss my concerns just because I'm new here," she said, her voice steady.
- The judge decided to dismiss the case due to a lack of physical evidence.
Notice the range? In the first example, it’s about bureaucratic efficiency (or laziness). In the second, it’s a plea for respect. In the third, it’s a formal legal mechanism. If you mix these up in your writing, your tone will feel "off" to a native reader. You wouldn't say a judge "threw away" a case in a formal report, just like you wouldn't say you "legally vacated" your friend’s opinion on where to eat lunch.
Legal vs. Casual Contexts
Lawyers love this word. In the legal world, to dismiss a case "with prejudice" means it’s dead forever. You can't bring it back. If it’s "without prejudice," the plaintiff can try again later. This is a high-stakes use of the word.
Compare that to a teacher dismissing a class. "Class dismissed!" is the classic trope. It’s a release of authority. One is an ending of a conflict; the other is an ending of a session. Language is weird like that.
How to Use Dismiss in a Sentence Without Looking Like an AI
If you’ve spent any time reading AI-generated content lately, you’ve noticed a pattern. Everything is "crucial" or "pivotal." Real humans don't talk like that. When we use dismiss in a sentence, we often surround it with emotion or specific imagery.
Take this for example: "He gave a dismissive shrug."
That’s much more evocative than "He dismissed the comment." The shrug tells us how it happened. It adds texture. If you’re writing a story or an essay, look for the "how." Was the dismissal cold? Was it accidental? Was it a relief?
I once saw a tweet that said, "Never dismiss a person’s intuition; it’s usually their subconscious processing data faster than their conscious mind." That’s a great example of a modern, insightful use of the term. It moves the word away from "firing someone" and toward "trusting oneself."
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Common Phrasal Variations
You don't always have to use the word "dismiss" alone. It has cousins.
Dismissive (Adjective): "Her tone was incredibly dismissive when I asked for help."
Dismissal (Noun): "The sudden dismissal of the CEO sent the stock price into a tailspin."
Actually, let's talk about that "sudden dismissal." In business, a dismissal is rarely just a "firing." It’s often a calculated move. Using the word "dismissal" instead of "firing" adds a layer of formality and coldness. It feels more corporate. More clinical.
The Psychology of Being Dismissed
There is a reason why being dismissed hurts more than being told "no." A "no" is an answer. A dismissal is a refusal to even engage with the question.
Psychologists often talk about "dismissive-avoidant" attachment styles. This is a specific category of human behavior where a person protects themselves by pushing others away. They dismiss the importance of emotional intimacy.
"Because he had a dismissive-avoidant attachment style, he would often dismiss his partner’s needs as being 'too needy' or 'irrational'."
See how that sentence works? It explains a complex psychological state using a very common verb. It’t not just about the word; it’s about the context of human connection.
When Dismissing is Actually Good
We usually talk about dismissal as a negative thing. But honestly? Sometimes you need to dismiss stuff. Your brain does it all the time. It’s called selective attention. Your brain dismisses the sound of the air conditioner so you can focus on this text.
If you didn’t have the ability to dismiss irrelevant data, your world would be a chaotic mess of sensory overload.
- Dismiss the haters. (A bit cliché, but true).
- Dismiss the distractions.
- Dismiss the negative self-talk that says you can't write well.
In these cases, dismissal is a survival mechanism. It’s an act of boundary-setting. "I dismiss the notion that I have to be perfect to be successful." That’s a powerful sentence. It’s a declaration.
Using it in Academic Writing
If you’re a student or a researcher, you’ll use this word to talk about evidence. "Researchers were quick to dismiss the initial findings after discovering the sample size was too small."
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In this context, it isn't personal. It’s about rigor. You aren't being mean to the data; you’re being honest about its validity. This is where the word gains its most "expert" feel. It’s the language of peer review and scientific skepticism.
Real-World Examples from History and News
History is full of people who were dismissed, only to be proven right later.
Think about Ignaz Semmelweis. He was the doctor who suggested that maybe, just maybe, doctors should wash their hands before delivering babies. The medical community at the time? They didn't just disagree. They dismissed him. They literally put him in an asylum.
"The medical establishment chose to dismiss Semmelweis’s theories on handwashing, leading to thousands of unnecessary deaths from puerperal fever."
That is a heavy sentence. It shows the consequences of dismissal. It’s not just a word; it’s a gatekeeper of progress.
In more recent news, we see this in the tech world. "Many early investors were quick to dismiss the potential of social media, calling it a 'fad' for teenagers." We know how that turned out.
Practical Tips for Your Writing
If you want to master using dismiss in a sentence, you need to stop using it as a synonym for "ignore." They aren't the same. To ignore is passive. To dismiss is active.
If I ignore a red light, I’m being reckless. If I dismiss a red light, I’m deciding that the light doesn't apply to me. One is an oversight; the other is a judgment call.
- Check your subject: Who is doing the dismissing? If it’s a person in power, the word feels more natural.
- Check your object: What is being dismissed? Ideas, people, cases, and feelings are all common objects.
- Watch your adverbs: Words like "summarily," "curtly," "casually," or "legally" often pair well with dismiss.
Instead of writing "He didn't listen to her," try "He dismissed her input with a flick of his wrist." The second one is better. It has movement. It has character.
A Quick Word on "Dismissed" vs. "Discharged"
People get these confused in military or medical contexts. A soldier is discharged (honorably or dishonorably). A patient is discharged from a hospital. You wouldn't say the doctor "dismissed" the patient unless the doctor was being really rude and refused to treat them.
"After the surgery was a success, the patient was discharged from the hospital."
(Correct)
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"The doctor dismissed the patient's complaints of pain as 'all in their head'."
(Correct, but describes a very different—and worse—situation)
Actionable Steps for Better Vocabulary
Don't just read this and move on. Use it.
Start by looking at your own writing. Search for the word "ignore" or "rejected." Could "dismissed" work better? Does it add that layer of "unworthy of attention" that you’re looking for?
Next, pay attention to how others use it. When you’re watching the news or reading a book, look for the word. Is the person using it to show power? To show boredom? To show a legal ending?
Finally, practice the "short-long" rhythm in your own sentences.
Dismiss the fluff. Write with intent.
If you can use dismiss in a sentence with precision, you aren't just a better writer. You’re someone who understands the subtle ways humans interact and judge the world around them.
Stop treating words like interchangeable blocks. They are tools. Use the right one for the job.
- Audit your recent emails: Did you "ignore" a request, or did you "dismiss" it because it wasn't a priority? The choice of word changes how the recipient feels.
- Analyze your internal dialogue: Are you dismissing your own wins?
- Vary your sentence length: Keep your readers on their toes. Like this. Or like this long, winding sentence that explores the depths of linguistic nuance before finally coming to a close.
Dismissal doesn't have to be an end. It can be a way to clear the path for what actually matters. By removing the noise, you find the signal. That’s the real power of the word. Use it wisely, and your writing will carry a lot more weight.
Next Steps for Mastery
To truly internalize this, try writing three sentences right now. One where a boss dismisses an employee, one where a scientist dismisses a theory, and one where you dismiss a bad habit. Notice how the "flavor" of the word changes in each scenario. This mental exercise builds the "muscle memory" needed for natural, human-like writing that connects with readers and search engines alike.