blackball 1 of 2

verb

ˈblak-ˌbȯl How to pronounce blackball (audio)
Definition of blackballnext
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

blackball

2 of 2

noun

1
as in veto

Related Words

Dissimilar Words
2
as in banishment

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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
  1. dismiss
  2. veto
  3. banishment
  4. kill
  5. con
  6. ostracism
  7. refuse
  8. refusal
Verb
  • The complaint escalates the department’s battle with the federal judiciary, which has halted administration priorities, dismissed high-profile prosecutions and accused government lawyers in some cases of failing to comply with court orders.
    — Alanna Durkin Richer, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The state did not seek to dismiss allegations related to Morrissey’s statements to the media or to her agreement to log a cache of bullets under a separate case number, functionally hiding them from the defense.
    — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of dismiss
Noun
  • Wednesday is the deadline for the governor to sign or veto bills.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
  • In his veto message Sunday, Newsom said the CSU and UC systems already have regularly scheduled meetings where the campus community can express themselves, rendering AB 2551’s open forums unnecessary.
    — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of veto
Noun
  • In a memo later Monday morning, the White House TV pool had been suspended given CNN’s banishment.
    — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Lucas and her attorneys with the Liberty Counsel, a conservative Christian legal organization, assert that her ownership of the property shields her from banishment.
    — Savannah Peters, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of banishment
Verb
  • On the politics, his statement summons a legacy-killing disaster by wagering that nothing will go wrong, when something likely will go wrong during his presidency.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Mothers Against Drunk Driving, or MADD, was founded in 1980 by a mother whose 13-year-old daughter was killed by an intoxicated driver.
    — Kent Sepkowitz, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of kill
Noun
  • Vicki and Tamra are meeting up to get their Prenuvo scans, and no, this is definitely not spon-con.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Today, two social security experts tell us the pros and cons.
    — Adrian Ma, NPR, 2 Oct. 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
  • The court may, in fact, be on the verge of requiring taxpayers to fund religious schools that refuse to admit LGBTQ students and parents.
    — Nina Totenberg, NPR, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The snack company refused and asked the band to stop throwing Cheez-Its from the stage.
    — Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of refuse
Noun
  • The air traffic control operators gave no reason for the earlier refusals.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 1 Oct. 2026
  • First of all, a lot of this is their refusal to just engage in normal legal cooperation under California’s sanctuary state law.
    — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of refusal

Browse Nearby Words

black-a-vised
blackball
blackballed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Blackball.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blackball. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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