ostracism

noun

Definition of ostracismnext
1
as in exclusion
treatment that is deliberately exclusionary Teenagers may act against their better judgement to avoid social ostracism.

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words
2
as in exile
the forced removal from a homeland His family celebrated his safe return after nearly a decade of political ostracism.

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 ostracism Invisible exiles lose families—parents, siblings, partners, children—and endure social ostracism. — Literary Hub, 18 Feb. 2026 The press feasted on Duesberg’s self-portrayal as the victim of ostracism arising from professional jealousies — a target of cancel culture before that was a thing. — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026 The family struggled with ostracism and loneliness. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025 Dissenting opinion brings ostracism, loss of work and grants and friendships. — Sal Rodriguez, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ostracism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ostracism
  1. exclusion
  2. exile
  3. displacement
  4. expulsion
  5. banishment
Noun
  • As such, it could be easily exported to describe Jewish quarters elsewhere—and eventually adapted to describe sites of confinement or exclusion the world over.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Until then, the fund's current ethical guidelines and exclusion framework remain unchanged.
    — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of exclusion
Noun
  • Many of Yemen's government leaders live in exile, and those in Aden were safe, a government official said.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Actors portraying Rama and Sita are shown living in exile in a lush green forest.
    — Sohini Sarah Pillai, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of exile
Noun
  • Some, facing immediate displacement with nowhere else to go, waited for local nonprofit organizations to arrive and assist with temporary shelter and moving support.
    — La'Tasha Givens, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • But this is 2026 and the world is weaning off larger displacements.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of displacement
Noun
  • The cases are then reviewed by a panel of faculty and staff, which can impose punishments ranging from verbal warnings to suspension or expulsion.
    — Casey Tolan, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026
  • In theory, the criminal proceeding could lead to prison time and the Title IX case to expulsion.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of expulsion
Noun
  • In a memo later Monday morning, the White House TV pool had been suspended given CNN’s banishment.
    — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Lucas and her attorneys with the Liberty Counsel, a conservative Christian legal organization, assert that her ownership of the property shields her from banishment.
    — Savannah Peters, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of banishment

Browse Nearby Words

ostentatiousness
ostracism
ostracisms
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on ostracism

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ostracism

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of jilt

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All