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as in to exhale
to let or force out of the lungs asked the patient to expel a deep breath

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb expel contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of expel are eject, evict, and oust. While all these words mean "to drive or force out," expel stresses a thrusting out or driving away especially permanently which need not be physical.

a student expelled from college

When would eject be a good substitute for expel?

While the synonyms eject and expel are close in meaning, eject carries an especially strong implication of throwing or thrusting out from within as a physical action.

ejected an obnoxious patron from the bar

When could evict be used to replace expel?

The words evict and expel are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, evict chiefly applies to turning out of house and home.

evicted for nonpayment of rent

When is it sensible to use oust instead of expel?

While in some cases nearly identical to expel, oust implies removal or dispossession by power of the law or by force or compulsion.

police ousted the squatters

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 expel At that time, the Israeli defense minister threatened to annex parts of Gaza and expel its population if Hamas did not release the Israeli hostages. Khalil Shikaki, Time, 2 Apr. 2025 Kleiman also found evidence to believe that some members of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel were not all expelled to Mesopotamia in the 7th century B.C. and actually may have stayed in Megiddo. Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 1 Apr. 2025 The federal government sent the university a list of demands, such as suspending or expelling students who participated in the demonstrations. Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 1 Apr. 2025 Gaza will have no future without new leadership, after dismantling and expelling Hamas and its destructive ideology that revolves around eliminating Israel. Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for expel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expel
Verb
  • Security on the scene in Houston said the decision whether to eject the fan ultimately rested with the Astros and Major League Baseball.
    Sam Blum, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025
  • The man was ejected from the scooter and landed in a southbound lane, where he was struck by a vehicle.
    City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • In Grand Junction, the new regime cast a fresh eye on the rare fish.
    Luke Cyphers, Sportico.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The eight-episode project also has been quietly casting, with relative newcomer Summer H. Howell (Hunter Hunter) in negotiations for the title character, Carrie White, and Siena Agudong (Resident Evil) set as her nemesis, Sue Snell.
    Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 10 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • However, predicting if and when such jets could erupt from Sgr A* again isn't as easy as spotting evidence of its historical activity.
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 24 Mar. 2025
  • The altercation erupted outside Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park and escalated in the mall parking lot, cops said.
    Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 23 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Another great one is the 4-7-8 breath, which activates the parasympathetic nervous system: inhale for four counts, hold for seven and exhale slowly for eight.
    Michelle Stansbury, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Use this simple breathing exercise: Inhale slowly for a count of five and exhale slowly for a count of five.
    Juli Fraga, Contributor, CNBC, 6 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The Gators and Clayton somehow overcame Houston’s lock-down intensity Monday night to will out a 65-63 victory in an NCAA title-game thriller decided when the Florida senior’s own defense stopped the Cougars from even taking a winning shot at the buzzer.
    Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2025
  • The Gators and Clayton somehow overcame Houston’s lockdown intensity, along with a 12-point deficit Monday night to will out a 65-63 victory in an NCAA title-game thriller decided when the Florida senior’s own D stopped the Cougars from even taking a game-winning shot at the buzzer.
    Eddie Pells, Baltimore Sun, 7 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • At over six feet long, it’s got a serious presence—perfect for anchoring a living room or quietly radiating main character energy under a gallery wall.
    Bailey Berg, Architectural Digest, 4 Apr. 2025
  • As domestic stability gets wobbly in Turkey the destabilizing effect will radiate out to the neighboring countries, to the region and beyond.
    Melik Kaylan, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Instead, the meats are cooked on spits off-site and loaded onto the truck.
    Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 3 Apr. 2025
  • The direct-to-consumer business model is fairly straightforward: A consumer orders a genetic test kit online, spits into a tube that comes in the mail, returns it to the company and accesses their results in an online portal.
    Kayte Spector-Bagdady, The Conversation, 2 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Each player was banished from his professional sport for life.
    Martin Edel, Sportico.com, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Inspired by a children’s book series by Colin Thompson, this movie focuses on an evil king (who happens to be Betty’s grandfather) who banished music and magic from the land.
    Dina Gachman, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Expel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expel. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.

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