EXCOMMUNICATION Synonyms: 27 Similar and Opposite Words

excommunication

noun

Definition of excommunication

as in condemnation

Related Words

Relevance

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 excommunication The Vatican said dialogue was offered to the group ahead of the schism and that the step of ordaining bishops without ⁠church approval was considered so grave that excommunication was automatic. — Reuters, NBC news, 5 July 2026 Luigi Casalini, of the blog Messa in Latino, meaning Latin Mass, said the excommunication of the bishops was correct because canon law provides for it. — Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026 Under the church’s in-house canon law, consecrating a bishop without papal consent incurs an automatic excommunication for both the people administering the consecration and the bishops receiving it. — ABC News, 1 July 2026 In 1988 the group ordained four bishops without papal approval, which led to their excommunication. — Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for excommunication

Recent Examples of Synonyms for excommunication

Noun

The Johnson County pastor and the former rural doctor traded condemnations, repeatedly turning policy questions into opportunities to cast doubt on each other’s character and fitness for office.

— Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2026
Under Ben-Gvir, Israeli police have increasingly allowed Jews to pray at the site, a deliberate provocation to the Arab world, drawing condemnation from Palestinian and Jordanian authorities.

— Eric Cortellessa, Time, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of condemnation

Noun

Football—besides being one of our more ubiquitous and unrestrained national entertainments—has also become one of the rare arenas in American life where highly specialized language can flourish without censure.

— Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2026
The board is also expected to consider whether to launch an investigation into the allegations and consider a censure vote.

— Sarah Horbacewicz, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of censure

Noun

For protesters, that record sits uneasily besides the prime minister’s denunciation of violence against women.

— Amrita Basu, The Conversation, 22 Oct. 2026
The frontrunner is Marine Le Pen, who has worked for years to make her far-right party, the National Rally, more electable while campaigning on immigration, crime, and denunciation of an out-of-touch political class.

— Nicholas Bequelin, Time, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of denunciation

Noun

Still, there’s some serious potential here for an entertaining redemption (or final damnation) arc for Joe, and the other cats of Team Lioness should a fourth season materialize.

— Andy Andersen, Vulture, 20 Sep. 2026
There is a temptation to expand the view of this ruling, to look at the slippery slope that has been legally greased and pontificate about how this will lead to the further damnation of college sports.

— Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 8 June 2026

Definition of damnation

Browse Nearby Words

excommunicating

excommunication

excommunications

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Excommunication.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excommunication. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of excommunication

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on excommunication

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

disparate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

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

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

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

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

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

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes