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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.

“I’m shaking the dust off my old guitar and taking lessons again,” he says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

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

From Salon • Mar. 22, 2025

The pullback inspired some market commentators to dust off an antique market indicator known as the Dow Theory.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 18, 2025

“We actually had to dust off some old telefaxes,” remembers Mr Molland.

From BBC • Sep. 26, 2024

I catch him outside the door and brush a layer of dust off the back of his jacket.

From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson