What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
dissociate
Example
She decided to dissociate herself from the political party due to their controversial policies. [dissociate: verb]
Example
He tried to dissociate his personal feelings from the professional decision he had to make. [dissociate: verb]
Example
The chemist used a solvent to dissociate the two substances. [dissociate: verb]
disengage
Example
The teacher had to disengage the students from their heated argument. [disengage: verb]
Example
She had to disengage the lock before opening the door. [disengage: verb]
Example
He decided to disengage from the project due to personal reasons. [disengage: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Disengage is more commonly used than dissociate in everyday language. Disengage is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while dissociate is less common and has a more specific usage.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between dissociate and disengage?
Both dissociate and disengage can be used in formal or informal settings, but dissociate may have a slightly more formal connotation due to its association with psychology and academic language.
