Synonym Chooser

How does the verb deport contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of deport are banish, exile, and transport. While all these words mean "to remove by authority from a state or country," 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 might banish be a better fit than deport?

In some situations, the words banish and deport are roughly equivalent. However, banish implies compulsory removal from a country not necessarily one's own.

banished for seditious activities

When is it sensible to use exile instead of deport?

The synonyms exile and deport are sometimes interchangeable, but exile may imply compulsory removal or an enforced or voluntary absence from one's own country.

a writer who exiled himself for political reasons

When is transport a more appropriate choice than deport?

The meanings of transport and deport largely overlap; 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 deport Rwanda to take migrants deported from US Rwanda agreed to take as many as 250 migrants deported from the US, part of efforts across the continent to placate Washington in the face of tariff threats and travel bans. Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 7 Aug. 2025 Since serving in that role, Noem has carried out Trump’s immigration policies in deporting undocumented immigrants. Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2025 Detained in Texas, deported to El Salvador Perozo, who has five children, said he was beaten daily for a week at CECOT and a gun was fired near his left ear during a riot 15 days after his imprisonment. Gustavo Ocando Alex, Miami Herald, 1 Aug. 2025 The terminations are part of a broad effort by the Republican administration to deport immigrants en masse, by going after people who are in the country illegally but also by removing protections that have allowed people to live and work in the U.S. on a temporary basis. Janie Har, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for deport
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deport
Verb
  • His other confidantes at the time included two of Brazil’s most influential singer-songwriters, Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso, who had been exiled from their homeland by Brazil’s brutal military dictatorship.
    George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025
  • They are silenced, punished, exiled – for daring to write.
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 16 July 2025
Verb
  • He was acquitted on 17 counts of possessing a dog for use in an animal fighting venture, court records show.
    Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 5 Aug. 2025
  • Combs was convicted on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, and acquitted on more serious charges.
    Jay Stahl, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Growing up, Benesch’s parents banished television sets from their home.
    Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 2 Aug. 2025
  • If your clothes have a mildewy, musty smell, then vinegar can save the day by banishing these unwanted odors.
    Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • In turn, everyone in the community carries an innate sense of stewardship.
    Chrissy Tracey, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
  • The chain carries outdoor apparel such as athletic shoes, swimwear and active wear for men and women, as well as sports equipment, hunting tools and camping furniture.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Although Lollapalooza has long booked electronic artists, they’re typically relegated to Perry’s stage, including headliners.
    Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 3 Aug. 2025
  • Unlike other streaming platforms, new Neon film releases on Hulu aren’t relegated to a specific day.
    Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • According to the study authors, research on how AI behaves in market environments can help regulators understand gaps in existing rules and statutes.
    Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 1 Aug. 2025
  • There was no suggestion the former archbishop had behaved inappropriately.
    Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 July 2025
Verb
  • How did the Big Brother Season 27 houseguests vote in Week 4? Votes to evict Kelley: Rachel, Ashley Votes to evict Jimmy: Morgan, Rylie, Keanu, Katherine, Vince, Will, Ava, Zach, Laura Who was evicted from Big Brother Season 27 in Week 4?
    Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2025
  • The book also reported that William has been trying for years to get Andrew and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, evicted from the Royal Lodge, the 30-room mansion the former couple live in on the Windsor Castle grounds.
    Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The plane was met promptly by local law enforcement officers, who restrained and removed the passenger from the aircraft.
    Becca Longmire, People.com, 14 Aug. 2025
  • On July 28, 2025, she was pulled over by local police for driving without a license and improperly restraining a child.
    Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Deport.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deport. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.

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