Disassociate: meaning, definitions and examples

๐Ÿ”—
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disassociate

 

[dษชsษ™หˆsoสŠsiหŒeษชt ]

Definition

Context #1 | Verb

formal

To disconnect or separate from someone or something. To end a connection or association with someone or something.

Synonyms

detach, disconnect, separate, sever.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
disassociate

Primarily used in psychological or formal contexts to describe the process of removing oneself mentally or emotionally from a situation, person, or identity.

  • She tried to disassociate herself from the traumatic experience.
  • The politician disassociated from the controversial comments made by his party.
disconnect

Typically used to refer to breaking an electrical, digital, or communicative connection; can also be used metaphorically to refer to emotional or social disconnection.

  • She disconnected the phone from the charger.
  • After the argument, they chose to disconnect for a while.
separate

Commonly used to indicate dividing or keeping things apart physically, emotionally, or in terms of relationships; used in both formal and informal contexts.

  • Please separate the waste into recyclables and non-recyclables.
  • The couple decided to separate after many years together.
detach

General term used to indicate physically or emotionally removing something from something else; can be used in both literal and metaphorical contexts.

  • He detached the painting from the wall.
  • It is important to detach yourself from distractions while studying.
sever

Used for intense contexts to indicate a complete cutting off or ending of something, whether physical (like cutting) or relationships; often carries a negative connotation.

  • He had to sever the rope to free the boat.
  • They decided to sever all ties after the disagreement.

Examples of usage

  • He decided to disassociate himself from the controversial project.
  • She chose to disassociate from the group due to ideological differences.
  • The company decided to disassociate from its previous partner.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

  • The word comes from Latin roots: 'dis-' meaning 'apart' and 'associate' from 'associatus', meaning 'to unite' or 'join'.
  • The formal use of the term began in the late 19th century, particularly linked to psychology.
  • It's often confused with 'dissociate', which has a similar meaning but is used in slightly different contexts.

Psychology

  • In psychological terms, it refers to a mental process where a person disconnects thoughts, memories, or emotions.
  • Dissociative disorders, such as dissociative identity disorder, involve extreme forms of this separation.
  • It's often a defense mechanism against trauma or stress, allowing a person to cope by detaching from reality.

Pop Culture

  • In movies, characters often disassociate during intense scenes to escape fear, emphasizing the mental break.
  • The term is sometimes used in self-help contexts, where people discuss 'disassociating' from negative thoughts or relationships.
  • Popular songs and books also explore themes of disassociation, illustrating a sense of loss or searching for identity.

Science

  • Research in neuroscience shows that disassociation can affect how the brain processes experiences and emotions.
  • It is linked to brain functions that regulate memory and emotional responses, revealing complex psychological interactions.
  • Functional MRI studies have shown that distinct brain regions are activated in individuals who experience disassociative states.

Literature

  • Various literary works explore themes of disassociation, using characters who experience separation from their identities or realities.
  • Classic and contemporary authors often depict protagonists who grapple with disassociated feelings, representing broader human struggles.
  • Poetry, too, uses disassociation as a device to convey emotional depth and inner conflict, inviting readers to reflect on their own experiences.

Translations

Translations of the word "disassociate" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น desassociar

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เค…เคฒเค— เค•เคฐเคจเคพ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช trennen

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ memisahkan

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ั€ะพะท'ั”ะดะฝัƒะฒะฐั‚ะธ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ oddzielaฤ‡

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๅˆ‡ใ‚Š้›ขใ™ (ใใ‚Šใฏใชใ™)

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท dissocier

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ disociar

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท ayฤฑrmak

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๋ถ„๋ฆฌํ•˜๋‹ค

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ูุตู„

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ oddฤ›lit

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ odpojiลฅ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅˆ†็ฆป (fฤ“nlรญ)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ loฤiti

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ skilja

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะฑำฉะปัƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ’แƒแƒ›แƒ˜แƒฏแƒ•แƒœแƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ayฤฑrmaq

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ disociar

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #31,321 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.