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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 addition to breach of contract, a member school that refuses to sign and is then expelled could argue the conference and other members have tortiously interfered with their contractual and business relationships. Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 20 May 2025 Its mandate was to bring together historians and lawyers to identify and expel from the United States anyone who assisted the Third Reich in persecuting civilians. Henry Leutwyler Robert Petkoff Emma Kehlbeck Quinton Kamara, New York Times, 20 May 2025 Mother is aghast when the head teacher expels Alpha. Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 19 May 2025 But the Department of Homeland Security has argued that visa holders like Öztürk can be expelled at the discretion of the executive branch. Nik Popli, Time, 9 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for expel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expel
Verb
  • Bernardino threw 23 pitches over 1 2/3 innings Tuesday night after Walker Buehler was ejected in the third inning, one of six relievers Boston had to use.
    Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 22 May 2025
  • Estabrook, who’d already removed his mask and begun striding toward the mound as well, dramatically ejected the right-hander.
    Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 21 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
  • As months and years of data arrived, Keeling’s rigorous work revealed two global phenomena: Earth’s plants inhaling CO2 each summer and exhaling it each winter, and CO2 levels’ unrelenting annual increase.
    Ashley Braun, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 May 2025
  • For example, when twisting your upper body to the right, use inhalations to expand your ribs on the right side and exhale to contract your ribs on the left side, to facilitate the rotation.
    Dana Santas, CNN Money, 14 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
  • On the other hand, any fleeting gesture of affection or vulnerability — like Chandan standing in Shoaib’s path during an Islamophobic assault — makes love practically radiate through the screen.
    Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 21 May 2025
  • On the mound, Shem Tov smiled and blew kisses to the crowd, radiating warmth and kindness.
    Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 20 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 29 May. 2025.

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