ostracism

noun

Definition of ostracismnext
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

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 ostracism The press feasted on Duesberg’s self-portrayal as the victim of ostracism arising from professional jealousies — a target of cancel culture before that was a thing. — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for ostracism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ostracism
  1. exclusion
  2. exile
  3. displacement
  4. expulsion
  5. banishment
Noun
  • But, as Ellis demonstrates in this survey of the city’s racial history, liberal policy achievements tend to obscure more insidious forms of exclusion.
    — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 20 July 2026
  • But false reports about exhausted runners after the first women’s 800-meter race helped justify the exclusion of this women’s race until 1960.
    — Lynda Lin Grigsby, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2026
Definition of exclusion
Noun
  • The journey leads from the jungle into the Andes — and from fieldwork into memory, exile and family loss.
    — John Hopewell, Variety, 17 July 2026
  • In hard years, Noe Terrebonne, the great-great-grandson of Acadian exiles, would do a bit of smuggling for Li Shan, the Chinese proprietor of a shrimp-drying platform on Bayou Andre, in the marsh north-west of Cheniere Disparue.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 July 2026
Definition of exile
Noun
  • The true challenge lies in the human element, managing immense workforce displacement, upskilling entire departments and establishing ethical AI guardrails against algorithmic bias in hiring and performance.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
  • The same city celebrated as a Black Mecca has also witnessed widening inequality, rising housing costs, and the displacement of many Black residents from neighborhoods their families called home for decades.
    — Jeffrey Bennett, Time, 17 July 2026
Definition of displacement
Noun
  • National research links suspension and expulsion to lower academic achievement, a higher risk of contact with the criminal justice system, isolation, poor health and lower wages, the report said.
    — Bryant Furlow, ProPublica, 13 July 2026
  • Refusal to participate or pass these exams routinely results in expulsion, arrest, or the institution’s closure.
    — Charlie Campbell, Time, 9 July 2026
Definition of expulsion
Noun
  • Sore from the torment of her family’s banishment, Espinoza feels the pulse of current events.
    — Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
  • 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
Definition of banishment

Browse Nearby Words

ostentatiousness
ostracism
ostracisms
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Cite this Entry

“Ostracism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ostracism. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on ostracism

Nglish: Translation of ostracism for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ostracism

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