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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 In April 2025, Pakistan deported tens of thousands of Afghans and accelerated its drive to expel undocumented Afghans and those on temporary permits. Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes.com, 5 May 2025 In 2023, Republican George Santos became the sixth House member in history to be expelled from Congress. Sudiksha Kochi, USA Today, 3 May 2025 Federal judges in six of those cases have issued provisional orders stopping the administration from using it to expel Venezuelans accused of belonging to Tren de Aragua to a prison in El Salvador. Alan Feuer, New York Times, 1 May 2025 Inside each of the mission's four thrusters, an electromagnetic field ionizes the xenon gas before expelling the ions to produce thrust. ArsTechnica, 1 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for expel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expel
Verb
  • This pulse can trigger a process known as electromagnetic dissociation, in which a photon interacts with a nucleus, inducing internal oscillations that eject neutrons and photons.
    Victoria Corless, Space.com, 13 May 2025
  • Derek Curiel grounded out to second base to strand Milam at second base. Arkansas 5, LSU 3 — Middle 8th Inning LSU coach Jay Johnson was ejected for arguing a 3-2 pitch that was ruled a ball, which allowed Justin Thomas to reach with a 1-out walk.
    Matt Jones, Arkansas Online, 12 May 2025
Verb
  • Clearly, Pantoliano was cast in this role before casting directors discovered his evil aura.
    Carrie Wittmer, Vulture, 19 May 2025
  • By contrast, the March release of Snow White, with Rachel Zegler, a Latina actress, in the lead, put Disney into a bit of a crisis mode amid a loud and emboldened right-wing casting backlash.
    Matthew Carey, Deadline, 18 May 2025
Verb
  • Without Tatum, Brown erupted for his best-scoring game of the series: 26 points on 9-of-17 shooting from the field and 3-of-5 shooting from downtown.
    Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 15 May 2025
  • The talks came as protests erupted across China, where the loss of the U.S.—the country's largest single export market—was forcing factories to shut down.
    Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
Verb
  • That involves inhaling through your nose while counting to four, holding your breath on a count of four, and then exhaling for the same amount.
    Kris Ann Valdez, Parents, 8 May 2025
  • Try a six-second nose inhale, hold for seven and exhale for eight.
    Jamie Griffith, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025
Verb
  • Instead, transgender troops who do not voluntarily come forward could be outed by commanders or others aware of their medical status.
    Lolita C. Baldor, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2025
  • Would a gay guy be outing himself by saying he’s obsessed with her?
    Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 15 May 2025
Verb
  • Such data centers, ideally, would be powered by solar panels and be able to radiate heat into the vacuum of space.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 9 May 2025
  • After nearly two decades in the spotlight, Julianne Hough still radiates an energy that can only be described as electric.
    Clayton Davis, Variety, 9 May 2025
Verb
  • Standing stoically amid the screaming, spitting, scrapping miners is a security robot.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 16 May 2025
  • For ages 3-6—after which kids can typically rinse with water and spit out the paste—a slightly larger pea-sized dollop suffices.
    Matt Fuchs, Time, 14 May 2025
Verb
  • Brown fouled out with 2:50 left in the third quarter, banished to the Phantom Zone, hanging up his cape with 20 points on 8-for-20 shooting.
    C.J. Holmes, New York Daily News, 17 May 2025
  • Honestly, whoever designed this mind-numbing, incomprehensible plan should be banished to an island where they will hopefully be devoured by wildlife.
    Inga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Expel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expel. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

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