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

Others used the shutdown to dust off esoteric research projects.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 12, 2025

"But that is surely the best way of blowing the dust off this national treasure."

From BBC • Jun. 5, 2025

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

From Salon • Mar. 22, 2025

He got up and brushed the dust off his pants.

From "Inkheart" by Cornelia Funke

dust off

Example Sentences

Related Words