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 There’s even a little Kurosawa — from all the stages of his career — in the feudal set-up; while the decadent emperor Kisra (Ben Kingsley) holds court, his enemies are banished. Damon Wise, Deadline, 28 Sep. 2025 The season finale of House of Guinness opens with Patrick Cochrane — the Fenian Brotherhood leader who Edward had banished to New York — secretly returning to Ireland, with both an axe to grind against the Guinnesses and a perilous political mission to carry out. Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025 For Darnold, Thursday’s victory went some way to banishing demons from last season. Ben Morse, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025 There was magic when Patrick Bailey banished Tanner Scott’s fastball into the Oracle Park bleachers, a walk-off grand slam to stun the Dodgers. Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 24 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for banish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for banish
Verb
  • At its center, Jovanka Antich — exiled, betrayed, hungry for justice — embodies themes of migration, discrimination and gender power.
    Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Among other elements, the plan would end the war, return the remaining hostages, surge aid into Gaza, disarm and potentially exile Hamas, and provide an eventual pathway toward Palestinian self-government.
    Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 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
  • Four innings before the Jays finished Saturday’s 10-1 blowout win over the New York Yankees, snatching a series-opening victory in the American League Division Series, Gausman was relegated to spectator.
    Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
  • Moreover, while athletes that make the transition to media, whether during or after their sports careers, were once relegated to sports analytics and commentary, the canvas has become much broader.
    Andrew McGowan, Variety, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Seven of those charged previously pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and prosecutors moved to dismiss their felony counts.
    Quinlan Bentley, Cincinnati Enquirer, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Olguin dismissed the case in 2022 after finding Elden’s claims were time-barred without addressing the substance of his allegations.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Roberts, who is challenging the order to deport him to his native Guyana, remained jailed Wednesday in Sioux City, about 150 miles (240 kilometers) northwest of Des Moines.
    Dave Smith, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025
  • After being released into the custody of his brother in Maryland pending trial, he was again detained by immigration authorities, who have sought to deport him.
    Laura Romero, ABC News, 1 Oct. 2025
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
  • Westmoreland—who also, to be fair, had a habit of not charging friends for many drinks at all—was evicted from the subway location in 2001.
    Ben McGrath, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
  • That was a remarkable turnaround from a player who appeared poised to be the first person evicted out of the house.
    Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • San Rafael, California — Whether battling a wildfire, chasing a suspect, or helping someone with a traumatic injury – the firefighters, police officers, paramedics, and others who take action in emergencies regularly endure high levels of stress.
    Kathleen Toner, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Still, council member Lamont Westmoreland wondered if the danger that technology presented would be less than the danger of chasing vehicles.
    David Clarey, jsonline.com, 3 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Banish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/banish. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

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