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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Recent Examples of ostracism
The family struggled with ostracism and loneliness.
—
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
Dissenting opinion brings ostracism, loss of work and grants and friendships.
—Sal Rodriguez, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
But this ostracism has also been felt more widely across Israeli society, including among the large numbers of Israelis who oppose the war.
—Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for ostracism
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
Dissenting opinion brings ostracism, loss of work and grants and friendships.
—Sal Rodriguez, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
But this ostracism has also been felt more widely across Israeli society, including among the large numbers of Israelis who oppose the war.
—Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for ostracism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ostracism
Noun
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But Tuchel appears to have made up his mind regarding him, as his exclusion from the 35-man squad named for the most recent international break in March demonstrated.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
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But the impression throughout is of a complex work of fiction distilled down to broad-strokes plot machinations, to the exclusion of meaningful character insight.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
Noun
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Bradley’s transatlantic life is a tale of artistic freedom and recognition earned at the cost of exile.—
Brian Seibert,
New Yorker,
13 May 2026
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The king is understood to be funding Andrews ‘exile’ at Marsh Farm, including former royal protection cops.—
Lori A Bashian , Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2026
Noun
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And maybe hold a parallel history of travel and displacement in some odd way?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
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Moderated by IndieWire’s Anne Thompson, the panel explored how Luna channelled his own experiences with grief into an adaptation of Brenda Navarro’s novel about family separation and emotional displacement.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
18 May 2026
Noun
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Birds exhibit sneeze-like respiratory expulsions as well, and even some reptiles do, too.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
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In the 1930s, Mexican American citizens were deported from the United States as part of a program that led to the expulsion of about 1 million Mexicans.—
Daisy Hernández,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
Noun
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The appeals court ruled in September 2025 that Mid Vermont Christian must be allowed to participate in state athletics, after two years of banishment had passed.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
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Like there was a demon in his lungs, fighting the last bit of banishment.—
Courtney Crowder,
USA Today,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ostracism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ostracism. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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