1
as in exclusion
treatment that is deliberately exclusionary
Teenagers may act against their better judgement to avoid social ostracism.
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2
as in exile
the forced removal from a homeland
His family celebrated his safe return after nearly a decade of political ostracism.
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Recent Examples of ostracism
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
But this ostracism has also been felt more widely across Israeli society, including among the large numbers of Israelis who oppose the war.
—
Ruth Margalit,
New Yorker,
18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ostracism
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
But this ostracism has also been felt more widely across Israeli society, including among the large numbers of Israelis who oppose the war.
—
Ruth Margalit,
New Yorker,
18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ostracism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ostracism
Noun
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The same forces that built fortunes also deepened inequality, accelerated environmental damage and led to violence and exclusion that reshaped entire communities.
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The surprise exclusion of experienced players such as Harry Maguire and Trent Alexander-Arnold from the final World Cup squad has also left many criticizing head coach Thomas Tuchel’s tactics.
Noun
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Like the building itself, the city of Miami has to some extent become synonymous with the Cuban exile community.
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According to its data, 10 self-immolations by Tibetans have occurred while people were in exile.
Noun
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Yale, a key champion of the quantum effort and an economic anchor in New Haven, has often found itself at the center of local discussions around displacement, gentrification and inequity.
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An image may resonate with deeper meanings (that’s what great directors can bring about), but the compression and displacement that make the simile devastating on the page have no cinematic equivalent.
Noun
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Accra’s 1969 migrant expulsion and Uganda’s mass ban three years later both triggered capital flight and supply chain chaos.
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The poems explore themes of loss, identity, artmaking and the natural world, as well as the 1885 expulsion of Chinese immigrants from Eureka, California.
Noun
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Sore from the torment of her family’s banishment, Espinoza feels the pulse of current events.
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The appeals court ruled in September 2025 that Mid Vermont Christian must be allowed to participate in state athletics, after two years of banishment had passed.
Cite this Entry
“Ostracism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ostracism. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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