EXPATRIATE Synonyms: 66 Similar and Opposite Words

expatriate 1 of 3

noun

ek-ˈspā-trē-ət

Definition of expatriate

as in refugee

a person forced to emigrate for political reasons while in exile, the deposed king was accompanied by a small band of loyal expatriates

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expatriate

2 of 3

verb

ek-ˈspā-trē-ˌāt

as in to exile

to force to leave a country members of the deposed dictator's once-feared political party were expatriated as well

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

expatriate

3 of 3

adjective

as in immigrant

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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 expatriate

Noun

First published by Scribner in 1926, The Sun Also Rises follows American journalist Jake Barnes and a circle of expatriates traveling from Paris to Pamplona in the years following the First World War. — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2026 More than 30,000 expatriates had registered with Fly&Vote, an initiative helping Israelis arrange election travel, which has already secured seven dedicated flights to Israel. — Deborah Danan, Sun Sentinel, 8 Sep. 2026

Verb

An August survey by Remitly found that having a better quality of life is the top reason Americans want to expatriate. — Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 20 Oct. 2025 During the ensuing chaos that followed, Charles fled the country, secretly expatriating to Europe. — Hazlitt, 18 June 2025

Adjective

Qatar’s population is about 3million, but expatriate workers count for around 90 per cent. — Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 13 June 2026 Wolter, as quixotic expatriate Russian Countess Lily, channels peak era Carol Burnett in this raucous comedy duet. — Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 9 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for expatriate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for expatriate

Noun

The case centers on the Cuban government shooting down two Brothers to the Rescue flights, a civilian rescue group dedicated to saving refugees fleeing the authoritarian Castro regime — then run by Raul Castro’s older brother Fidel.

— Liv Caputo Herald, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026
Trump has vastly expanded ICE to ramp up deportations of immigrants, refugees and asylum-seekers, and the agency was a major part of last year’s law-enforcement surge in the Chicago area known as Operation Midway Blitz.

— Daniel C. Vock, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of refugee

Verb

Karen would absolutely be a Catherine Zeta-Jones character who has been exiled to Arrakis following a particularly contentious divorce.

— Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2026
Dahlan had previously been driven from Gaza by Hamas and was exiled in 2010 after a falling-out with Abbas.

— Sam Metz, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of exile

Adjective

The area's flooring industry has long depended on immigrant labor, and many families include a mix of citizens, legal residents, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients and undocumented immigrants.

— DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF FROM WIRE REPORTS, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
Jeffries blamed Republican policies for making life unaffordable in South Florida, pointing to increases in gas prices and the costs of tariffs and immigration enforcement, which has left immigrant communities living in fear.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of immigrant

Verb

The Industry actress was banished from Season 2 of The Celebrity Traitors last week and has reflected on her experience on the Studio Lambert series in an Instagram post.

— Jake Kanter, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
At that point, the group had botched its first two votes, mistakenly banishing two female faithfuls.

— Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of banish

Adjective

High energy costs, coupled with record exits of foreign investors from its capital markets due to risk aversion and the lack of artificial intelligence play, have kept the rupee under pressure.

— Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
Majidi previously made Oscar history with Children of Heaven (1997), which became the first Iranian film nominated in the international category, then known as best foreign-language film.

— Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of foreign

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“Expatriate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expatriate. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of expatriate

noun

verb

adjective

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