discard 1 of 2

noun

ˈdis-ˌkärd How to pronounce discard (audio)
Definition of discardnext
as in reject
something separated from a group or lot for not being as good as the others toss all of your discards in the garbage

Synonyms & Similar Words

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discard

2 of 2

verb

dis-ˈkärd How to pronounce discard (audio)
as in to dump
to get rid of as useless or unwanted discard an old, torn sweater

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word discard different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of discard are cast, junk, scrap, shed, and slough. While all these words mean "to get rid of," discard implies the letting go or throwing away of something that has become useless or superfluous though often not intrinsically valueless.

discard old clothes

Where would cast be a reasonable alternative to discard?

The words cast and discard can be used in similar contexts, but cast, especially when used with off, away, or out, implies a forceful rejection or repudiation.

cast off her friends

How are the words scrap and junk related as synonyms of discard?

Both scrap and junk imply throwing away or breaking up as worthless in existent form.

scrap all the old ways
would junk our educational system

How do shed and slough relate to one another, in the sense of discard?

Shed and slough imply a throwing off of something both useless and encumbering and often suggest a consequent renewal of vitality or luster.

shed a bad habit
finally sloughed off the depression

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of discard
Noun
The Nigerian firm’s approach reduces plastic pollution and increases reliable employment for waste pickers while promoting sustainability by turning discards into useful elements. —Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019 Avoid open flames and sparks, don't park vehicles on dry grass and discard of cigarettes carefully, the weather service in Albuquerque warned Saturday, adding that winds will be at their strongest Saturday and again on Tuesday. —Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 29 Mar. 2025
Verb
Most furniture and fixtures in affected areas had to be discarded. —Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 21 July 2025 Drain the stock and discard all solids except the mushrooms. —Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 18 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for discard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discard
  1. reject
  2. dump
  3. cull
  4. ditch
  5. second
  6. unload
  7. rejection
  8. lose
Noun
  • Dickinson gives us nonjudgmental access to the day-to-day existence of one among any number of unhoused addicts, while Dillane presents Mike with all the prickly edges of a societal reject.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2025
  • The modern reject rejects the academic consensus on everything from the science of vaccines to the benefits of free trade.
    — Zack Beauchamp, Vox, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of reject
Verb
  • Just weeks after the Thomas Fire tore through the hills above Montecito, an intense winter storm dumped several inches of rain in January 2018.
    — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 24 July 2025
  • Company insiders, also including the finance chief, have dumped $16.6 million in shares over the past 30 days.
    — Alex Harring,Nick Wells, CNBC, 21 July 2025
Definition of dump
Noun
  • Kennedy went so far as to appeal to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to cancel the cull.
    — Judy Stone, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
  • Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins, who was confirmed by the Senate to lead the agency earlier this month, has said that VA benefits will not be cut despite the staffing cull.
    — Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 14 Feb. 2025
Definition of cull
Verb
  • That means ditching jargon, simplifying the language, and embedding meaningful guidance at every step, not just in financial education courses, but in checkout flows, customer service chats, and everyday social content.
    — Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 18 July 2025
  • The easing of these requirements could spell an end to travelers guzzling liquids at checkpoints and ditching items that do not meet the size allowance.
    — Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 July 2025
Definition of ditch
Noun
  • After the now-defunct website posted nine seconds of the footage in 2012, Hogan filed a $100 million civil lawsuit against the outlet.
    — Anna Lazarus Caplan, People.com, 24 July 2025
  • In its stock configuration, that’s enough to go from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.3 seconds and reach a top speed of 125 mph (201 km/h).
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 July 2025
Definition of second
Verb
  • Stratton unloaded an array of moves on Stratus, including a suplex that ended with Stratus hitting Stratton’s knees.
    — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 14 July 2025
  • Gonzalo Fuentes | Reuters Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang unloaded roughly $36.4 million worth of stock in the leading artificial intelligence chipmaker, according to a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing.
    — Samantha Subin, CNBC, 11 July 2025
Definition of unload
Noun
  • In Cassidy’s time, the pre-academy era, there was next to no assistance for players dealing with rejection or setbacks.
    — Simon Hughes, New York Times, 11 July 2025
  • But this rejection of empathy has paved the way for dehumanizing rhetoric toward entire groups.
    — Brian Recker, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 July 2025
Definition of rejection
Verb
  • In just the wild-card era — dating back to the 1995 season — a whopping 10 teams have lost six in a row and gone on to win the World Series.
    — Ryan Ford, Freep.com, 22 July 2025
  • Both Philadelphia and New York have lost six of their last ten.
    — Dan Schlossberg, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
Definition of lose

Browse Nearby Words

disbursing
discard
discarded
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Discard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discard. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

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