discharge 1 of 2

Definition of dischargenext
1
as in firing
a directed propelling of a missile by a firearm or artillery piece the thunderous discharge of the cannons

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in release
a freeing from an obligation or responsibility a full discharge from responsibility for the accident

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
as in dismissal
the termination of the employment of an employee or a work force often temporarily she was resentful over what she felt was a wrongful discharge

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4

discharge

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to fire
to cause (a projectile) to be driven forward with force Robert Goddard was the first to discharge a rocket containing an instrument package

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
3
as in to pay
to give what is owed for discharge a debt in full

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4
5
6
as in to shoot
to cause a weapon to release a missile with great force felt a strong recoil as the rifle discharged

Synonyms & Similar Words

7

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb discharge contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of discharge are accomplish, achieve, effect, execute, fulfill, and perform. While all these words mean "to carry out or into effect," discharge implies execution and completion of appointed duties or tasks.

discharged his duties

In what contexts can accomplish take the place of discharge?

The words accomplish and discharge can be used in similar contexts, but accomplish stresses the successful completion of a process rather than the means of carrying it out.

accomplished everything they set out to do

How do achieve and accomplish relate to one another, in the sense of discharge?

Achieve adds to accomplish the implication of conquered difficulties.

achieve greatness

How are the words effect and achieve related as synonyms of discharge?

Effect adds to achieve an emphasis on the inherent force in the agent capable of surmounting obstacles.

effected sweeping reforms

When might execute be a better fit than discharge?

While in some cases nearly identical to discharge, execute stresses the carrying out of what exists in plan or in intent.

executed the hit-and-run

When would fulfill be a good substitute for discharge?

The words fulfill and discharge are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fulfill implies a complete realization of ends or possibilities.

fulfilled their ambitions

When could perform be used to replace discharge?

While the synonyms perform and discharge are close in meaning, perform implies action that follows established patterns or procedures or fulfills agreed-upon requirements and often connotes special skill.

performed gymnastics

How does the verb discharge contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of discharge are accomplish, achieve, effect, execute, fulfill, and perform. While all these words mean "to carry out or into effect," discharge implies execution and completion of appointed duties or tasks.

discharged his duties

In what contexts can accomplish take the place of discharge?

The words accomplish and discharge can be used in similar contexts, but accomplish stresses the successful completion of a process rather than the means of carrying it out.

accomplished everything they set out to do

How do achieve and accomplish relate to one another, in the sense of discharge?

Achieve adds to accomplish the implication of conquered difficulties.

achieve greatness

How are the words effect and achieve related as synonyms of discharge?

Effect adds to achieve an emphasis on the inherent force in the agent capable of surmounting obstacles.

effected sweeping reforms

When might execute be a better fit than discharge?

While in some cases nearly identical to discharge, execute stresses the carrying out of what exists in plan or in intent.

executed the hit-and-run

When would fulfill be a good substitute for discharge?

The words fulfill and discharge are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fulfill implies a complete realization of ends or possibilities.

fulfilled their ambitions

When could perform be used to replace discharge?

While the synonyms perform and discharge are close in meaning, perform implies action that follows established patterns or procedures or fulfills agreed-upon requirements and often connotes special skill.

performed gymnastics

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 discharge
Noun
As a precaution, Commerce City has notified downstream water districts, including Brighton, Thornton and the South Adams County Water and Sanitation District, of the illicit discharge. Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 17 Apr. 2026 The woman was cleared for discharge. Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
According to the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office, Michael Tyrone Bowers III is charged with discharging a firearm from a vehicle, discharging a firearm in/at a building and two counts of felony firearm. Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2026 Moore was shot in the lower right leg during the incident but has since been discharged from the hospital. Yi-Jin Yu, ABC News, 20 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for discharge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discharge
Noun
  • The department has encountered legal challenges to the firings.
    Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
  • Also, to fill the gap created by the administration's own firings, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth authorized sending military lawyers (known as JAGs) to serve as temporary immigration judges for six-month rotations.
    Ted Koppel, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Prisoner releases are common on holidays and other significant occasions in Myanmar.
    ABC News, ABC News, 17 Apr. 2026
  • As a condition of her release, Portugues is prohibited from possessing or using any type of gun.
    Abby Dodge, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Red cards carry an automatic dismissal and a mandatory one-game benching.
    Ryan Finley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
  • That student had been let out of school early and returned to the area around dismissal, according to the report.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • When Meituan, China’s dominant lifestyle super app that combines services similar to DoorDash, Yelp, and Groupon into a single platform, launched its Xiaomei AI agent in late 2025, executives internally described it not as a chatbot but as an orchestrator plus execution agent.
    Harvard Business Review, Harvard Business Review, 17 Apr. 2026
  • Netflix is betting that steady execution on its core business wins in a more crowded, consolidating market.
    Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Three Georgia State Patrol troopers and their supervisor were fired from the department after an investigation revealed a scheme where officers used insurance claims to profit off of vehicle chases, an internal report concluded.
    Asia Simone Burns, AJC.com, 21 Apr. 2026
  • Quinlan represents former district CEO Pedro Martinez, who was fired without cause in December 2024, in an ongoing lawsuit against several current and former board members.
    Audrey Pachuta, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Jackson arrived in a U-Haul filled with wood and began to unload the vehicle when he and the homeowner were approached by Omondi, who was naked, police have said.
    Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Apr. 2026
  • The Hauler has no cab (essentially a self-driving platform) and is designed for 40-foot and 53-foot shipping containers and runs dock-to-dock—unloading at the destination rather than dropping a trailer and leaving.
    Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • In 2025, the department spent about thirty million dollars paying people not to work.
    Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
  • In fact, many retailers find themselves in a similar quandary because tariff refunds will go to whoever paid the actual customs bill.
    Alina Selyukh, NPR, 19 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • There was no sign former leader Aung San Suu Kyi would be freed or if the pardon would include the thousands of political detainees imprisoned for opposing military rule.
    ABC News, ABC News, 17 Apr. 2026
  • That said, a small portion of inventory was strategically reserved by both networks in anticipation of a hot scatter market; when freed up, those units are expected to be the most valuable buys on the summer sports calendar.
    Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 17 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Discharge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/discharge. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.

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