banish

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb banish contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of banish are deport, exile, and transport. While all these words mean "to remove by authority from a state or country," banish implies compulsory removal from a country not necessarily one's own.

banished for seditious activities

When is it sensible to use deport instead of banish?

The synonyms deport and banish are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 would exile be a good substitute for banish?

Although the words exile and banish have much in common, exile may imply compulsory removal or an enforced or voluntary absence from one's own country.

a writer who exiled himself for political reasons

In what contexts can transport take the place of banish?

In some situations, the words transport and banish are roughly equivalent. 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 banish Surprisingly, Eric’s wife doesn’t banish Edie from their home upon finding out about her husband’s dalliances. Literary Hub, 10 June 2025 Vera, the daughter of a Russian father and Korean mother, may be banished to second-class citizenry. Mark Athitakis, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2025 During those frenzied years in the 1960s and 1970s, authorities banished Xi from the capital and subjected him to solitary confinement and physical abuse. Joseph Torigian, Foreign Affairs, 23 June 2025 Under the cover of darkness, the Traitors work to ‘murder’ the Faithful one by one, while the Faithful try to uncover the Traitors and banish them from the game. Anne Easton, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for banish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for banish
Verb
  • And what of Matthias Schoenaerts’ Booker, who was exiled for betraying the Old Guard as part of a bid to cure his eternality?
    David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 2 July 2025
  • Jorge Mas Canosa, the father of David Beckham’s co-owners at Inter Miami, Jorge and Jose, was one of many who exiled from Cuba after the rise of Fidel Castro.
    James Horncastle, New York Times, 28 June 2025
Verb
  • In March, 2008, the Post published a front-page story on Eliot Spitzer, then the governor of New York, who—after cracking down on prostitution rings while serving as the state’s attorney general, from 1999 to 2006—was outed as having patronized an escort service.
    The New Yorker, New Yorker, 14 July 2025
  • Having identifying documents with gender markers that don’t appear to match how a person is presenting themself could foster an uncomfortable, sometimes dangerous, situation for people who are forced to out themselves as trans to strangers.
    CNN.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 6 July 2025
Verb
  • For example: The strike on Iran demonstrated America’s unique global military reach and its ability, together with Israel, to reshape the Middle East while relegating Russia and China — nominally Iran’s allies — to the sidelines.
    Hal Brands, Twin Cities, 13 July 2025
  • Why were the ordinary women so prominent, the holy scene relegated to the background?
    Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 11 July 2025
Verb
  • With the reciprocal tariffs, Trump is dismissing the rules governing world trade.
    Aamer Madhani, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2025
  • So far, nearly 60,000 federal employees have been dismissed, with the State Department layoffs marking the latest round of cuts.
    Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 July 2025
Verb
  • This week, Musk responded to Bannon’s recent calls for him to be arrested and deported with a post that sparked instant controversy on social media.
    Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 8 July 2025
  • Located beneath Île de la Cité, this stark, minimalist crypt honors the 200,000 French victims deported to Nazi camps.
    Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
Verb
  • Cunningham, Sheldon and Sun guard Lindsay Allen were ejected from the game with about 40 seconds left before the Fever took home the victory.
    Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 13 July 2025
  • The screw-on lids can forcefully eject upon opening if food, carbonated beverages or perishable drinks like juice or milk have been stored in the bottle over time.
    Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 12 July 2025
Verb
  • On Wednesday, the California Civil Rights Department announced a settlement prohibiting Vertus Properties from evicting victims of domestic violence and which ordered $46,825 in fees for the woman to cover housing and other costs.
    Ishani Desai July 11, Sacbee.com, 11 July 2025
  • Elan joined the show during Casa Amor, which happened right after Hannah was evicted.
    Dina Kaur, AZCentral.com, 10 July 2025
Verb
  • Again, don’t run: Bears will chase you, just like a dog would.
    Mike Stunson July 14, Kansas City Star, 14 July 2025
  • And that’s what all three of these companies are chasing: trust, at scale.
    Olumuyiwa Olowogboyega, semafor.com, 14 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Banish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/banish. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.

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