1. to make or become different or unlike
Usage: formal; rare
2. to undergo or cause to undergo dissimilation (a phonetic change where similar sounds become less alike)
Usage: linguistics

Examples

• The immigrant community began to dissimilate from the dominant culture over time.
• Regional dialects often dissimilate certain consonant clusters for easier pronunciation.
• The two languages dissimilated as they developed in isolation.
• Phonologists study how sounds dissimilate in different linguistic environments.
• The process tends to dissimilate adjacent similar phonemes.
• Cultural groups may dissimilate to maintain their distinct identity.