Definitions

dust off

VERB

drop

Synonyms

STRONGEST

cancel end give up leave lose stop

STRONG

abort adios cease desert discontinue dismiss disown ditch divorce forfeit forsake interrupt jilt kick quit reject relinquish remit renounce repudiate resign sacrifice scratch scrub separate shake terminate

WEAK

be alienated from break with call off cast off eighty-six forget about have done with part from part with throw over wash out waste one wipe out write off

Antonyms

STRONGEST

continue keep maintain start

STRONG

hold

WEAK

pursue take up

VERB

murder

Synonyms

STRONGEST

assassinate behead butcher decapitate destroy execute exterminate lynch massacre shoot slaughter slay strangle

STRONG

abolish asphyxiate chill cool defeat dispatch drub electrocute eliminate eradicate extinguish finish garotte guillotine hang hit knife liquidate mangle mar misuse off ruin smother snuff spoil thrash waste

WEAK

blot out bump off do in knock off put away rub out take a life take for a ride take out

Antonyms

STRONGEST

bear create give birth

STRONG

heal help preserve save

WEAK

guard protect

VERB

put away

Synonyms

STRONGEST

knock off put down

WEAK

assassinate bury cool cut off destroy dispatch do away with do in execute finish inter liquidate murder plant put out of its misery put to sleep slay tomb

Antonyms

WEAK

abstain free give birth liberate refrain

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Even so, Kiely and other teachers have jumped at the chance to dust off their skills.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026

Vermonters have launched fundraising campaigns for police to man road closures and officials to dust off old parking ordinances.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 12, 2025

You can also use a pastry brush or a clean, unused paintbrush to dust off the surfaces.

From Salon • Mar. 22, 2025

So when Penn migrated south three years ago and began laying the foundation for another expansion club, this time in San Diego, it was assumed he’d simply dust off the same blueprints.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 1, 2024

“These?” said Wemmick, getting upon a chair, and blowing the dust off the horrible heads before bringing them down.

From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens

dust off

Example Sentences

Related Words