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

Social media rumors swirled that the league was blackballing her because of her activism. — Rebecca Tauber, New York Times, 4 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

Zhykovych’s lawyer, Anatoliy Ivanov, dismissed the allegations, telling CNN that Reut was the organizer and killer and was seeking to shift the blame onto Zhykovych.

— Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
Chauvin is looking to have his conviction vacated and the charges dismissed.

— Riley Moser, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of dismiss

Noun

Crowley has said local communities must have veto authority while also calling data centers a part of the modern economy that could bring significant economic benefits to the state.

— Jesse Bedayn, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2026
Crowley has taken a more nuanced approach, saying local communities must have veto authority, while also saying data centers are a part of the modern economy and could bring significant economic benefits to the state.

— Marc Levy, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of veto

Noun

The self-banishment of UEFA sides would raise the prospect of greater diversity, with Europe having won six of the past eight tournaments and accounting for most of the teams in the competition’s latter stages.

— Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026
Violations give the commissioner broad authority to impose severe penalties, ranging from fines and suspensions to permanent banishment in order to protect the integrity of the league.

— Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 31 July 2026

Definition of banishment

Verb

Video released by police after the shooting showed two officers charging into the school and killing the shooter, who’d just fatally shot three 9-year-olds and three adults and was firing from a window.

— Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
Since then, more than 200 people have been killed in strikes in the eastern Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea.

— CBS News, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of kill

Noun

Stapley’s own fascination with the art of the con began after her mother was conned out of her life savings.

— Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 19 Aug. 2026
Jonathan Curtiss Sherman Oaks Pros and cons The WNBA has seen a very positive increase the last few years in viewership, ratings and salaries, which is good for them.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 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

Reuters reported that five migrants who refused to disembark after arriving in Monrovia were flown instead to Equatorial Guinea in Central Africa, where they are held with more than 30 other migrants previously sent there by the US.

— Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
The channel, which is banned inside Iran, refuses to disclose its private donors.

— Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of refuse

Noun

It’s built on depth, high-end baseline talent, and a fundamental refusal to look like a mess when actual game lights turn on.

— Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2026
Students who took the stand described a heated exchange over Anthony’s refusal on a rainy spring day to leave a tent that belonged to Metcalf’s team.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 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 26 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of blackball

verb

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

devolve

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes