exorcise

verb

ˈek-ˌsȯr-ˌsīz How to pronounce exorcise (audio)
variants also exorcize
Definition of exorcisenext
as in to discard
to get rid of as useless or unwanted please exorcise that offensive word from your vocabulary

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 exorcise Philadelphia came back against the Celtics from down 3-1 to exorcise some demons, too. — Zach Harper, New York Times, 7 July 2026 Naim and his overly anxious single mom (Mia Wasikowska) attend rote church services in which the pastor looks to exorcise the LGBTQ+ from sinful boys who like boys and girls who like girls. — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 18 June 2026 The Three Lions will also have to exorcise decades of demons to achieve something the likes of Gary Lineker, David Beckham and Wayne Rooney never could. — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 15 June 2026 What followed was 50-some-odd years of demons being exorcised in Madison Square Garden. — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 11 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for exorcise
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exorcise
  1. discard
  2. dump
  3. unload
  4. ditch
  5. lose
Verb
  • Once discarded, these traps also inadvertently capture birds and other wildlife.
    — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Responses with the error were discarded, as were voters who had already been attempted, and quotas were reset.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of discard
Verb
  • The account provides helpful context for understanding the public drama of Musk suddenly dumping Shivon Zilis, his most recent partner and the mother of four of his kids.
    — Sheelah Kolhatkar, New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Alex Freeland dumped beer into his mouth and all over his face.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of dump
Verb
  • If last week’s Atlanta News First debate discouraged direct confrontations, Tuesday’s Atlanta Press Club showdown gave the two rivals room to unload on each other.
    — Adam Beam, AJC.com, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Sulaeman said that a tanker carrying fuel to Bali suffered an anchor problem while preparing to unload cargo, delaying deliveries to the island’s main fuel terminals.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of unload
Verb
  • The latest unit retains the same first six forward ratios as the outgoing Carrera T’s manual transmission, but ditches its predecessor’s somewhat awkward and largely superfluous seventh gear.
    — Bradley Iger, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Josh O’Connor has stepped out in a perfectly boxy and slouchy gray pinstriped suit, while Benito Skinner has embraced the timeless three-piece suit—only to ditch the blazer, throw it over his shoulders, and rock the vest.
    — Christian Allaire, Vogue, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of ditch
Verb
  • As music factories and generative tools take over entry-level work, newcomers risk losing a vital foothold in the industry.
    — Ben Croll, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
  • So instead of making teams whole each time, the NFL now just pays teams’ travel expenses for their international game under the rationale that every team will lose a home game—and, in turn, home game ticket revenue—during that time.
    — Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of lose

Browse Nearby Words

exorbitantly
exorcise
exorcised
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Exorcise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exorcise. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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