BLACKBALL Synonyms: 52 Similar and Opposite Words

blackball 1 of 2

verb

ˈblak-ˌbȯl

Definition of blackball

as in to dismiss

to reject by or as if by a vote he was disappointed to learn that he had been blackballed by the fraternity

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

blackball

2 of 2

noun

as in veto

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

as in banishment

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 blackball

Verb

In an ugly break with tradition, three of Herbst’s colleagues blackballed his two appointees from serving on city boards in April 2025. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 5 May 2026 Even a popular New York City venue allegedly uses it to blackball people its millionaire owner considers adversaries. — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026

Noun

Even a popular New York City venue allegedly uses it to blackball people its millionaire owner considers adversaries. — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026 For more than 20 years, apologists for Israel have sought to shame, blackball, and fire professors who criticize Israeli policy. — David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for blackball

Recent Examples of Synonyms for blackball

Verb

China’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the espionage allegation on Monday.

— Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 11 Nov. 2026
The Senate dismissed all impeachment charges, shutting down his trial before arguments even began.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 11 Nov. 2026

Definition of dismiss

Noun

In the months following the veto, e-bike and e-scooter riders died in at least three crashes in Miami-Dade County.

— Larry Seward, CBS News, 11 Nov. 2026
Herzog acknowledged the challenge during consultations with parliamentary leaders, citing disagreements and mutual political vetoes that could prevent either side from forming a stable government.

— Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 11 Nov. 2026

Definition of veto

Noun

Carol’s return and redemption, after her banishment from the group, was a thrilling turn for the character, so evocatively rendered by Melissa McBride over these many seasons.

— Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Oct. 2026
In a memo later Monday morning, the White House TV pool had been suspended given CNN’s banishment.

— Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of banishment

Verb

An Israeli strike on Sunday killed two Palestinians, a man and woman, in Muwasi, a tent camp area on Gaza's coast, said health officials at Nasser hospital.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 9 Nov. 2026
Charlie Kirk, who founded conservative political group Turning Point USA, was shot and killed September 2025 while speaking at a college event in Utah.

— Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 9 Nov. 2026

Definition of kill

Noun

Men between 70 and 74 should talk to their doctors about the pros and cons of getting tested, the guidelines state, while men 75 and older, or those not expected to live another 10 years, should stop screening.

— ABC News, ABC News, 12 Nov. 2026
Put it all together, and the CBO study provided grist both for both the pro and con camps.

— Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 10 Nov. 2026

Definition of con

Noun

Indeed, any ambitious scientist had to be in the good graces of these Big Players or risk financial ostracism and effective banishment from the halls of Big Science.

— Steve H. Hanke, Fortune, 29 July 2026
Expect the backlash, posing risks of fandom ostracism for any significant animator seemingly endorsing AI, to play out at late June’s Annecy Festival.

— John Hopewell, Variety, 1 June 2026

Definition of ostracism

Verb

Since Tuesday's election, he's refused to acknowledge any responsibility, placing blame on the candidates.

— STEVEN SLOAN, Arkansas Online, 8 Nov. 2026
All attuned to the issues that concern younger generations, who refuse to be stratified by shopworn political shibboleths.

— James D. Zirin, Washington Post, 8 Nov. 2026

Definition of refuse

Noun

Below the message, the man included a link to an opinion column from the California Globe, a right-center news outlet according to media watchdog site Media Bias/Fact Check, that criticized Vang for her refusal to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

— Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 12 Nov. 2026
As a result of his refusal to engage in this element of operational security (opsec), the soldier, Daniel Barton-Kennedy, had his phone hacked, and nude photos of himself were stolen and used as blackmail against him.

— Cyrus Farivar, ArsTechnica, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of refusal

Browse Nearby Words

black-a-vised

blackball

blackballed

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Blackball.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blackball. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of blackball

verb

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

boilerplate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Nov. 13

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes