Synonym Chooser

How does the verb deport contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of deport are banish, exile, and transport. While all these words mean "to remove by authority from a state or country," deport implies sending out of the country an alien who has illegally entered or whose presence is judged inimical to the public welfare.

illegal aliens will be deported

When might banish be a better fit than deport?

In some situations, the words banish and deport are roughly equivalent. However, banish implies compulsory removal from a country not necessarily one's own.

banished for seditious activities

When is it sensible to use exile instead of deport?

The synonyms exile and deport are sometimes interchangeable, but exile may imply compulsory removal or an enforced or voluntary absence from one's own country.

a writer who exiled himself for political reasons

When is transport a more appropriate choice than deport?

The meanings of transport and deport largely overlap; however, transport implies sending a convicted criminal to an overseas penal colony.

a convict who was transported to Australia

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 deport First, the administration is deporting – according to their claims – roughly 750 immigrants. Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 17 Sep. 2025 Gomez, who officials said was deported in 2005, was arrested for driving under the influence in April 2013 and detained by ICE Long Island. Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2025 Ukrainian officials said the report provides irrefutable evidence that Russia is systemically deporting, illegally adopting, reeducating and militarizing children. Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025 On September 2, Manhattan Federal Judge Lewis Liman ordered that Rojas not be deported until the case is resolved. Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for deport
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deport
Verb
  • The Cultural Revolution then saw universities closed or radically repurposed, graduate training halted, and many scientists exiled to the countryside for farmwork.
    Scott Montgomery, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Now exiled and barred from returning to her home country, Asayesh has become a symbol of artistic resistance for her outspoken stance on human rights.
    Matt Grobar, Deadline, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Scott’s new attorney, Scott Sanders, believes his 69-year-old client would have been acquitted altogether if the evidence had been disclosed as required at the time of trial.
    Tony Saavedra, Oc Register, 17 Sep. 2025
  • After a trial, the Texas Senate acquitted him and he was reinstated to office.
    Lauren McGaughy, ProPublica, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Upon death, players are banished back to their last save space, many of which need to be unlocked with rosaries.
    Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 19 Sep. 2025
  • The TheraFace Depuffing Wand works its temperature-changing magic to banish puffiness and add brightness.
    Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Jadarian Price added nine carries for 74 yards and three touchdowns, plus a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown.
    Pete Sampson, New York Times, 21 Sep. 2025
  • Wide receiver Jacob De Jesus #21 of the California Golden Bears carries against the Oregon State Beavers during the first half at Reser Stadium on August 30, 2025 in Corvallis, Oregon.
    Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Period ambiance is kept low-key, mostly relegated to deftly chosen golden oldies (including a closing Sinatra track) that abet Kim Hong-jip and Lee Jin-hee’s original score.
    Dennis Harvey, Variety, 20 Sep. 2025
  • That would be the rotation as currently constructed, but would mean that Senga never gets called back up after being relegated to the minors to figure out his mechanics.
    Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Design With Flexibility In Mind Users don’t always behave as expected, often deviating from the ideal path designers envision.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • The images could help scientists further develop theories of how matter behaves in the extreme environments around supermassive black holes, which have masses of millions or even billions of suns and are found at the hearts of all large galaxies.
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Who got evicted from 'Big Brother'?
    Dina Kaur, AZCentral.com, 21 Sep. 2025
  • Under existing law, a landlord must pay one month’s rent at the rate in the contract for any tenant evicted for no fault of the tenant.
    Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Darcy said that when a person is resisting officers, their knowledge of the person having pre-existing medical conditions is not enough to prevent them from restraining someone combative.
    Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2025
  • The implicit message, heard clearly by the market, is that policy makers will be quicker to support growth than to restrain it proactively to inhibit inflation.
    Michael Santoli, CNBC, 20 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Deport.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deport. Accessed 24 Sep. 2025.

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