DISCARD Synonyms: 67 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

discard 1 of 2

noun

ˈdis-ˌkärd

Definition of discard

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

as in to dump

to get rid of as useless or unwanted discard an old, torn sweater

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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

Li has dedicated freezer bags for different dishes, like vegetable scraps for soups or fruit discards for smoothies. — Emily Siner, NPR, 27 June 2026 Tracking discards, reading opponents, weighing probabilities and managing your own hand all happen at once, every turn. — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 24 June 2026

Verb

At the site, the team is developing more efficient ways to recover scarce radioisotopes that would otherwise be discarded as waste. — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 24 Sep. 2026 Avoid using foil for brining, storing leftovers, or baking cookies, and discard foil with grease, acidic residue, moisture, or tears. — Heather Riske, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for discard

Recent Examples of Synonyms for discard

Noun

Before carving out a career in sports broadcasting and voice acting, Horton was just a teenaged high school basketball reject.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
And both the immune and eliminated designers are high on their own power; Elizabeth, in particular, is acting mighty haughty for a woman whose ruffled scarlet satin dress looks like a reject from the Westworld costume department.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 17 July 2026

Definition of reject

Verb

Michael Conforto dumped a full beer down the back of an unsuspecting Carson Kelly while across the room Shota Imanaga threw his head back, opened his arms and let out a yell as assistant hitting coach Juan Cabreja uncorked the champagne.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2026
Unlike institutional investors, who rely on algorithms to dump underperforming shares at the first sign of trouble, Coyle says retail buyers are more likely to stick around in good times and bad.

— Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of dump

Noun

The Supreme Court of Canada had stayed the cull order until the court decided whether to hear the appeal.

— J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026
For that, Nearmap turned to Sci-eye, a company that uses its AI models to count kangaroos, to inform government culls.

— Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of cull

Verb

Researchers have developed a paper-thin foot membrane that lets crawling microrobots harvest electricity directly from the ground beneath them, ditching heavy onboard batteries by turning metal and silicon surfaces into an active power source.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 8 Oct. 2026
Now that their youngest kids, twins Knox and Vivienne, are 18, Jolie is ready to ditch the US.

— Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of ditch

Noun

Jurors repeatedly reviewed surveillance video capturing the hours, minutes and seconds leading to the shooting before ultimately deadlocking on the homicide charges.

— Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2026
The ancient Egyptian city will experience an extraordinary 6 minutes 23 seconds of totality, close to the longest possible anywhere on Earth that day.

— Jamie Carter, Space.com, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of second

Noun

In her rejection of stereotypically female fashion and her flair for the dramatic, Sanjak definitely would have fit in at Le Monocle.

— Gaby Iori October 7, Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2026
In April, Americans for Financial Reform’s Education Fund released a study stating that the bank’s mortgage rejection rates for minorities in Charlotte and North Carolina far outpaced those of white applicants.

— Chase Jordan October 7, Charlotte Observer, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of rejection

Verb

What’s made this franchise so beloved has been its willingness to go on that journey with its young characters, maturing and deepening and changing without losing that initial childlike sense of hope and joy.

— Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026
This means, according to the team, that only about 2% of the electrical charge was lost to competing reactions.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of lose

Browse Nearby Words

disbursing

discard

discarded

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“Discard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discard. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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