Meanings
present singular third person dissimilates · participle present dissimilating · participle past dissimilated · past dissimilated
- raretransitiveTo make dissimilar or unlike.
- intransitiverareTo become dissimilar or unlike.
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Medieval Latindissimilātus
- Englishdissimilate
First attested in 1841; borrowed from Medieval Latin dissimilātus, perfect passive participle of dissimilō (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), hypercorrected form of Classical Latin dissimulō, from dis- + simulō, from similis (“similar, the same as”); the vocalism was perhaps influenced by assimilate, compare dissimulate. Cognate with French dissimiler; doublet of dissemble, dissimulate, and dissimule.
More words from Medieval Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
French dissimiler, distinguer
- dissimilermake dissimilar
- distinguermake dissimilar
- différentiermake dissimilar
Hungarian elhasonít, elhasonul
- elhasonítmake dissimilar
- elhasonulbecome dissimilar
Cite this entry
dissimilate. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dissimilate
“dissimilate.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dissimilate. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “dissimilate,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dissimilate.
Source: dissimilate on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.