1
as in exclusion
treatment that is deliberately exclusionary
Teenagers may act against their better judgement to avoid social ostracism.
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2
as in exile
the forced removal from a homeland
His family celebrated his safe return after nearly a decade of political ostracism.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ostracism
In ancient humans and other primates, reputational damage can bar access to food and mates, incite physical confrontations and, in extreme cases, lead to potentially fatal ostracism.
—
Clarissa Brincat, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2025
Bans, booing and ostracism The labeling of Israel as a pariah state internationally does not seem to bother the government.
—Asher Kaufman, The Conversation, 23 Aug. 2025
Columbia’s own antisemitism task force found last summer that Jewish students had faced verbal abuse, ostracism and classroom humiliation during the spring 2024 demonstrations.
—Chris Morris, Fortune, 24 July 2025
For many women—and men—around the world, infertility is a dire burden that comes with intense social stigma and community ostracism.
—Marcia C. Inhorn, Foreign Affairs, 9 Nov. 2015
See All Example Sentences for ostracism
Clarissa Brincat, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2025
Bans, booing and ostracism The labeling of Israel as a pariah state internationally does not seem to bother the government.
—Asher Kaufman, The Conversation, 23 Aug. 2025
Columbia’s own antisemitism task force found last summer that Jewish students had faced verbal abuse, ostracism and classroom humiliation during the spring 2024 demonstrations.
—Chris Morris, Fortune, 24 July 2025
For many women—and men—around the world, infertility is a dire burden that comes with intense social stigma and community ostracism.
—Marcia C. Inhorn, Foreign Affairs, 9 Nov. 2015
See All Example Sentences for ostracism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ostracism
Noun
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In Tulsa, dispossession unfolded not as a single event, but instead through the denial of insurance claims, the exclusion from public programs, the removal of homes through urban renewal, and decades of political pressure not to speak.—
Caleb Gayle,
The Atlantic,
28 Jan. 2026
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More and more readers can see that mainstream outlets manufacture consent through the use of particular words, phrases, and tones—and the exclusion of vital information, as is shown by their failure to report Jeffrey Epstein’s role as a global power broker with close links to Israeli intelligence.—
Sean Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The Immigrant Defense Project works at the intersection of criminal and immigration law, challenging a system that quietly erodes due process by turning minor contact with the state into exile.—
Dev Patnaik,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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On February 25, 1986, after four days of protests along Manila’s Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), the Marcoses jetted to exile in Hawaii, and the barangay militias disbanded.—
Sean Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The return represents a milestone not just for education operations but for a community that has navigated displacement, disruption and recovery together.—
Daily News,
Daily News,
27 Jan. 2026
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The Buddhist temple was directly in the path of the project, threatening its displacement.—
Jessica Alvarado Gamez,
Denver Post,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Johnson said before the demonstrations that students who participate in the protests will be marked absent from class, but would not be disciplined, such as with suspensions or expulsions.—
Jessica Seaman,
Denver Post,
30 Jan. 2026
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On the first offense, a violator would be subject to immediate expulsion from the legislative chamber for the remainder of the day, a fine of not less than $500 but not exceeding $1,000, and referral to the chamber’s ethics committee.—
Barbara Hoberock,
Oklahoma Voice,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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By episode five, Michael had moved on from suspecting Yam Yam to suspecting Colton, who was a ringleader in the previous episode’s banishment of Big Brother fan favorite Tiffany Mitchell.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
16 Jan. 2026
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After his banishment, Rapaport apologized in his confessional.—
Emily Longeretta,
Variety,
16 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ostracism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ostracism. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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