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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

exile

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb exile contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of exile are banish, deport, and transport. While all these words mean "to remove by authority from a state or country," 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 would banish be a good substitute for exile?

The synonyms banish and exile are sometimes interchangeable, but banish implies compulsory removal from a country not necessarily one's own.

banished for seditious activities

When is deport a more appropriate choice than exile?

Although the words deport and exile have much in common, 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 transport be a better fit than exile?

The words transport and exile can be used in similar contexts, but 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 exile
Noun
There are 4 million Iranian exiles worldwide, just under a third of them in the United States, according to Iranian Foreign Affairs Ministry statistics from 2021. Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC news, 26 June 2025 The fresh scandal at City Hall involving Mayor Eric Adams, though, gave Cuomo a path to end his exile. Anthony Izaguirre, Chicago Tribune, 24 June 2025
Verb
Israel has vowed to continue the war until all the captives are returned and Hamas is defeated, or disarmed and exiled. Yesica Fisch, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2025 Tulsa King follows New York mafia capo Dwight (Stallone), just after he is released from prison after 25 years and unceremoniously exiled by his boss to set up shop in Tulsa, Okla. Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 5 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for exile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exile
Noun
  • Abrego Garcia pleaded not guilty on June 13 to smuggling charges that his attorneys have characterized as an attempt to justify his mistaken expulsion to a notorious prison in El Salvador.
    Ben Finley, Fortune, 27 June 2025
  • Nonetheless, Pompeo was frozen out of a job when Trump returned to office—a MAGA expulsion announced by Trump in a social-media post.
    Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 26 June 2025
Noun
  • And the Afghan refugees in Pakistan have no real rights to protect them.
    Ruchi Kumar, NPR, 28 June 2025
  • The terms of the peace deal signed on Friday call for both countries to end support for non-state groups, the return of refugees, and the creation of a joint security coordination mechanism aimed at resolving disputes.
    Shannon K. Kingston, ABC News, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • Softening those characters for present-day sensibilities banishes what little edge there was and leaves everything feeling over-bright in a restless and relentless production.
    David Benedict, Variety, 24 June 2025
  • Any input would help. – Visiting Accident Dear Visiting: Don’t banish yourself just yet.
    R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 24 June 2025
Noun
  • But for a reporter without solid immigration status the outcome can be deportation.
    Graciela Mochkofsky, New Yorker, 28 June 2025
  • The Senate is preparing for a key procedural vote during a rare Saturday session as Republicans race to pass President Donald Trump’s package of tax breaks, spending cuts and bolstered deportation funds by his July Fourth deadline.
    Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 28 June 2025
Verb
  • Cameron Payne was relegated to the end of the bench by the conference finals.
    Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 30 June 2025
  • But Pavard had an exit clause in his contract, and Stuttgart was relegated to the second division that season.
    Manuel Veth, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • He was deported to Egypt on a flight departing on Thursday.
    Elaine Mallon, The Washington Examiner, 26 June 2025
  • Nevertheless, the administration did deport him to El Salvador on May 7 . . .
    Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 26 June 2025
Verb
  • An unidentified 16-year-old boy was pronounced dead at the scene and five other victims were transported to the hospital, police said.
    ABC News, ABC News, 5 July 2025
  • The man was pronounced dead at the scene and the woman was transported to a hospital in critical condition.
    Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Exile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exile. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.

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