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as in to exhale
to let or force out of the lungs asked the patient to expel a deep breath

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb expel contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of expel are eject, evict, and oust. While all these words mean "to drive or force out," expel stresses a thrusting out or driving away especially permanently which need not be physical.

a student expelled from college

When would eject be a good substitute for expel?

While the synonyms eject and expel are close in meaning, eject carries an especially strong implication of throwing or thrusting out from within as a physical action.

ejected an obnoxious patron from the bar

When could evict be used to replace expel?

The words evict and expel are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, evict chiefly applies to turning out of house and home.

evicted for nonpayment of rent

When is it sensible to use oust instead of expel?

While in some cases nearly identical to expel, oust implies removal or dispossession by power of the law or by force or compulsion.

police ousted the squatters

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 expel And in the worst case scenarios, their child might be expelled from their child care. Beki San Martin, Freep.com, 29 Sep. 2025 Palestinian-American director Cherien Dabis’ historical drama premiered at Sundance and tells a multigenerational story of a family expelled from Jaffa in 1948. Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 24 Sep. 2025 Her felony charges were a point of contention in the Senate during two legislative sessions, prompting ethics hearings, hours of floor debate, and unsuccessful efforts to expel her. Ingrid Harbo, Twin Cities, 24 Sep. 2025 Following the joint venture announcement, the French Federation of Clothing Retailers expelled Pimkie from its ranks. Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 22 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for expel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expel
Verb
  • He had already been ejected earlier in the third period.
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Last week, at the Glasgow stop of her Infinity Heart tour, Siwa unexpectedly ejected two fans from the show over a hoodie that featured Siwa photoshopped onto an egg, an image that appeared to be mocking her hairline.
    Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Bronstein, her every utterance brimming with deadpan passive-aggression, was shrewd to cast herself as one of Linda’s many antagonists.
    Justin Chang, New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2025
  • The pair met after being cast in a production of Hamlet at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival when Preston was in her mid-to-late 20s and Emerson was nearing 40, Preston explained.
    Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • During its first flyby of Saturn’s moon Enceladus in 2005, NASA’s Cassini spacecraft captured dramatic water ice plumes erupting into space from the moon’s south pole.
    Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2025
  • The leaves on the park’s deciduous trees erupt into every shade of deep scarlet, fiery orange, and golden yellow—and visitors have front-row seats to see it all.
    Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Then exhale completely through your mouth with pursed lips to a count of eight.
    Sherri Gordon, Health, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Try slowly inhaling for a count of 4 and exhaling for a count of 8, lengthening the exhale.
    Kate Pitts, Outside, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Last year, the singer-songwriter was outed by an ex on social media.
    Jeff Nelson, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025
  • The pair’s relationship was strained in the years after the seven-time Grammy winner became famous, with Ciccone at one point accusing his sister of outing him as gay during an interview.
    Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The sting from the loss radiated off of him during his postgame news conference.
    Dan Duggan, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
  • The woman was visibly trembling and radiated the metallic scent of tequila.
    Catherine Lacey, New Yorker, 5 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • In 2020, the duo bounced across the Tropicana Field turf before Game 1, Guerrero spitting seeds with a bandana around his neck and Bichette’s long hair still flowing behind him.
    Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Why turn my face toward something that spit me out?
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The girl only makes selfless wishes, and Iblis is banished to his lamp for a millennia for his failure.
    Kayti Burt, Time, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Payton clearly doesn't think the play needs to banished for player safety reasons.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Expel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expel. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

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