Dissipation
noun /ˌdɪsɪˈpeɪʃ(ə)n/ — Dissolving into pleasure — indulgence without restraint.
Definition
The action of scattering or breaking up; dispersal; a lifestyle given over to the pursuit of pleasure without moral restraint — the gradual wearing away of something through excessive indulgence.
Beyond the definition
Dissipation has two related meanings that illuminate each other. To dissipate is to scatter — and the person given to dissipation scatters themselves across pleasure, spreading their energy until nothing is concentrated. The dissipated person is vivid in the moment and diminished across time.
Origin & history
From Latin dissipatio, from dissipare (to scatter), from dis- (apart) + supare (to throw). The scattering — of energy, of wealth, of self — through excess.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The years of dissipation had extracted a price that was only now becoming visible.
He wore his dissipation with a certain glamour that made it look like freedom.
She recognized dissipation masquerading as passion and chose not to participate.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Dissipation” when the meaning fits your context: The action of scattering or breaking up; dispersal; a lifestyle given over to the pursuit of pleasure without moral restraint — the gradual wearing away of something through excessive indulgence.
Synonyms
dissolution, debauchery, excess, indulgence
Antonyms
abstinence, discipline, temperance
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Chair Being Reclaimed By Nature
A beautiful old wooden chair sits on the forest floor, with mushrooms growing on the seat and vines slowly wrapping around its legs.
Dissipation involves the gradual wearing away of vitality through unchecked indulgence or time. The chair's decay illustrates this process, where structure and form are slowly dispersed and broken down by persistent, external environmental forces.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Dissipation" mean?
Dissipation is noun meaning: Dissolving into pleasure — indulgence without restraint.. The action of scattering or breaking up; dispersal; a lifestyle given over to the pursuit of pleasure without moral restraint — the gradual wearing away of something through excessive indulgence.
Where does the word "Dissipation" come from?
From Latin dissipatio, from dissipare (to scatter), from dis- (apart) + supare (to throw). The scattering — of energy, of wealth, of self — through excess.