oust

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verb \ ˈau̇st \

Definition of oust

transitive verb

1 a :to remove from or dispossess of property or position by legal action, by force, or by the compulsion of necessity

The rebels ousted the dictator from power.

b :to take away (something, such as a right or authority) :bar, remove

The states do not like attempts by Congress to oust their jurisdiction.

2 :to take the place of :supplant

must be careful that quantity does not oust quality
—R. V. Williams

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Examples of oust in a Sentence

The rebels ousted the dictator from power.
Large national banks are ousting local banks in many communities.

Recent Examples of oust from the Web

Woodfin Rapid increases in rent and property taxes due to gentrification have displaced seniors and low-income residents from their homes, and ousted small businesses from our community, Woodfin said.

— erin edgemon, AL.com, "How Randall Woodfin won place in runoff with incumbent Birmingham mayor," 27 Aug. 2017
Venezuela’s ousted Chief Prosecutor Luisa Ortega Diaz attends a meeting of Mercosur trade bloc prosecutors, in Brasilia, Brazil, Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2017.

— Washington Post, "Venezuela’s ousted prosecutor accuses Maduro of corruption," 23 Aug. 2017
Not everyone is behind the effort to oust Chappelle-Nadal.

— jason hancock, kansascity, "Missouri lawmaker who wrote about Trump assassination faces new challenges," 22 Aug. 2017
Ivanka Trump and Kushner’s willingness to defer to Kelly was due in part to their desperation to see his predecessor, Reince Priebus, ousted expeditiously.

— isobel thompson, vanityfair.com, "Will Trumpworld Consume John Kelly?," 4 Aug. 2017
The turnover rate is enough to make one’s head spin, though at least there are plenty of options for follow-up jobs—like, say, a stint on Dancing with the Stars, which ousted press secretary Sean Spicer is reportedly considering.

— laura bradley, HWD, "Trump Has Fired Enough Staffers for an All-Trump Season of Dancing with the Stars," 31 July 2017
The termination of Jason Tomlinson, its former CFO, means that all three top officers of the troubled foundation have been ousted.

— andrew wolfson, The Courier-Journal, "U of L Foundation fires its chief financial officer in an effort to clean house," 18 July 2017
The loss of a financial backer puts pressure on Sony studio chief Tom Rothman, who replaced the ousted Amy Pascal in 2014.

— anousha sakoui, Bloomberg.com, "Sony, Lone Star End Film Funding Deal With $50 Million Remaining," 17 July 2017
Trump made calls to oust Kasich's pick for Ohio Republican Party chairman.

— jessie balmert, Cincinnati.com, "VP Pence's false attack on Kasich continues Trump feud," 17 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'oust.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of oust

Middle English, from Anglo-French oster, ouster to take off, remove, oust, from Late Latin obstare to ward off, from Latin, to stand in the way, from ob- in the way + stare to stand — more at ob-, stand

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First Known Use: 15th century

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oust Synonyms

Synonyms

banish, boot (out), bounce, cast out, chase, dismiss, drum (out), expel, extrude, kick out, eject, out, rout, run off, throw out, turf (out) [chiefly British], turn out

Antonyms

crown, enthrone, throne

Related Words

deforce, deport, displace, dispossess, evict, exile, expatriate, ostracize, read out, shut out; ax (or axe), can, cashier, defenestrate, discharge, fire, muster out, pink-slip, release, remove, retire, sack, terminate

Near Antonyms

accept, admit, receive, take, take in; welcome; entertain, harbor, house, lodge, shelter

Synonym Discussion of oust

eject, expel, oust, evict mean to drive or force out. eject carries an especially strong implication of throwing or thrusting out from within as a physical action.