1
as in expulsion
the forced removal from a homeland
the exile of French settlers from Nova Scotia resulted in the birth of the Cajun community in the U.S.
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in refugee
a person forced to emigrate for political reasons
after being overthrown in a coup, the dictator spent the remainder of his life as an exile in a string of less-than-welcoming countries
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in to banish
to force to leave a country
with their conquest of the Moors complete, Ferdinand and Isabella next exiled the Jews from Spain
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of exile
Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
Some lawmakers pushing hardest for regime change are looking to Cuba’s opposition network in exile as poised to move in and assert control in Havana.
—Laura Kelly, The Hill, 8 Jan. 2026
Ahmed Naji, The Dial, 18 Nov. 2025
From silently protesting at Pushkin Square to being exiled in a brutal prison camp, this book is a powerful tribute to the Russian dissidents who fought for freedom and justice while trying to evade the KGB.
—Literary Hub, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for exile
Noun
This week, royal biographer Robert Jobson told PEOPLE that the former Duke of York’s exile could take him to the Middle East.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
Some lawmakers pushing hardest for regime change are looking to Cuba’s opposition network in exile as poised to move in and assert control in Havana.
—Laura Kelly, The Hill, 8 Jan. 2026
Verb
Presently, he is exiled in Las Vegas, Nevada.
—Ahmed Naji, The Dial, 18 Nov. 2025
From silently protesting at Pushkin Square to being exiled in a brutal prison camp, this book is a powerful tribute to the Russian dissidents who fought for freedom and justice while trying to evade the KGB.
—Literary Hub, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for exile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exile
Noun
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Israel’s first occupation of Gaza was characterized by war crimes, massacres, and expulsions.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Robert Eggers' first feature tells a folk horror tale about a devout family — led by father William (Ralph Ineson) and his wife, Katherine (Kate Dickie) — living on an isolated farm in 1630s New England after their expulsion from Puritan society.—
Michael Lee Simpson,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Federal officials said the refugee review is part of a broader push to tighten legal immigration pathways and ensure that prior approvals granted during the Biden administration meet updated national security and public safety standards.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
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Since 1993, the organization has worked across the Sacramento area, supporting refugees, immigrants and survivors of human trafficking.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Traitors murder the Faithful one by one each night in secret, while the Faithful try to uncover the Traitors and banish them from the game.—
Brianne Tracy,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
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But there is more murdering and banishing to come.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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A number of Venezuelans who were sent to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador and subsequently returned to Venezuela have tried to challenge their deportations in US courts.—
Flora Charner,
CNN Money,
10 Jan. 2026
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An administrative warrant, by contrast, is issued internally by ICE and allows its agents to arrest someone for an immigration violation, such as overstaying a visa or failing to obey a deportation order.—
Emiliano Tahui Gómez,
Austin American Statesman,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Thus far, Arsenal’s excellent form has relegated the injuries to a subplot.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
-
And that feeling of attachment, as Friedman sees it, is not relegated to vintage.—
Paige Reddinger,
Robb Report,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The Navajo Nation said that dozens of Native Americans were questioned or detained by ICE agents last year, even though Indigenous people can't be deported.—
Nick Lentz,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
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An Ecuadorian national has been sentenced to just over a year in federal prison for coming back into the country after being deported following a conviction in connection with a fatal crash on Interstate 91 in 2017.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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To safely transport your new baby home from the hospital, consider the Peg Perego City Loop Infant Car Seat & Stroller Combo, which comes with a stroller and is 20% off.—
Laura Lu,
Parents,
10 Nov. 2025
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Airlines transport about 35% of global trade by value but only about 1% of world trade by volume, according to the trade group International Air Transport Association.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
9 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Exile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exile. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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