Antonyms for dilate
daɪˈleɪt, dɪ-, ˈdaɪ leɪtdi·late

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:3.0 / 1 vote

1. dilate

   Amplify is now rarely used in the sense of increase, to add material substance, bulk, volume, or the like; it is now almost wholly applied to discourse or writing, signifying to make fuller in statement, whether with or without adding matter of importance, as by stating fully what was before only implied, or by adding illustrations to make the meaning more readily apprehended, etc. The chief difficulty of very young writers is to amplify, to get beyond the bare curt statement by developing, expanding, unfolding the thought. The chief difficulty of those who have more material and experience is to condense sufficiently. So, in the early days of our literature amplify was used in the favorable sense; but at present this word and most kindred words are coming to share the derogatory meaning that has long attached to expatiate. We may develop a thought, expand an illustration, extend a discussion, expatiate on a hobby, dilate on something joyous or sad, enlarge a volume, unfold a scheme, widen the range of treatment.

   Antonyms:
   abbreviate, abridge, amputate, boil down, condense, curtail, cut down, epitomize, reduce, retrench, sum up, summarize

   Synonyms:
   amplify, augment, develop, enlarge, expand, expatiate, extend, increase, unfold, widen

   Preposition:
   To amplify on or upon the subject is needless. Amplify this matter by illustrations.

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:2.0 / 1 vote

1. dilate

   Antonyms:
   narrow, contract, restrict, constrict, particularize, dissect, anatomize, concentrate, epitomize, condense

   Synonyms:
   stretch, widen, expand, swell, distend, enlarge, descant, expatiate

Matched Categories

1. • Widen

Princeton's WordNetRate these antonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. dilate, distendverb

   become wider

   "His pupils were dilated"

   Synonyms:
   elaborate, expatiate, distend, flesh out, expound, expand, lucubrate, enlarge, exposit

2. elaborate, lucubrate, expatiate, exposit, enlarge, flesh out, expand, expound, dilateverb

   add details, as to an account or idea; clarify the meaning of and discourse in a learned way, usually in writing

   "She elaborated on the main ideas in her dissertation"

   Synonyms:
   work out, refine, fat, expound, fatten, exposit, fill out, spread out, extend, amplify, blow up, rarify, lucubrate, set forth, fatten up, thrive, elaborate, magnify, plump, expatiate, inflate, expand, fatten out, flesh out, complicate, plump out, boom, enlarge, flourish, distend, round

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. dilateverb

   Synonyms:
   expand, distend, expatiate

How to use dilate in a sentence?

1. Andrew Holzman:

   If you use the drops on a regular basis, your body will adapt to the drops, then when you stop, you end up getting a rebound effect where your blood vessels dilate and your eyes start to look red.

2. Ron Blankstein:

   The penile artery that delivers the blood flow to the penis is a much smaller diameter, and it's the smaller blood vessels which show the first signs of disease, they are unable to dilate and deliver sufficient blood flow.

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