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 Invisible exiles lose families—parents, siblings, partners, children—and endure social ostracism. — Literary Hub, 18 Feb. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for ostracism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ostracism
  1. exclusion
  2. exile
  3. displacement
  4. expulsion
  5. banishment
Noun
  • The dependency rules and the home sale exclusion are separate provisions of the tax code, and being claimed on someone else’s return does not, on its own, disqualify a homeowner from excluding gain on the sale of a principal residence.
    — Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Others, however, have chosen to attack Spain and to call for its temporary exclusion from the Schengen Area.
    — Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of exclusion
Noun
  • While Homer followed warriors sailing home from Troy, the playwright Euripides — writing some three centuries later — turned to the city’s ruins and its women, forced into exile and enslavement.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Attacks could draw retaliation and reignite Yemen’s war Yemen’s civil war began in 2014 when the rebels seized the capital, Sanaa, and much of northern Yemen, forcing the government into exile.
    — Fatma Khaled, Chicago Tribune, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of exile
Noun
  • In July, nearly 200 economists and researchers published a statement warning that AI could cause large-scale job displacement in the next decade.
    — Sebastian Herrera, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Through the lens of science fiction, Fawaz has created a story that finds wonder, hope, and imagination amid the trauma of displacement.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of displacement
Noun
  • Those minors now make up a large part of the 3,000-5,000 migrants who have avoided expulsion from Ceuta of the original 60,000 who came across.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Employees who break the policy can be fired, the school’s handbook states, and students face punishment, possibly expulsion.
    — Devna Bose, Charlotte Observer, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of expulsion
Noun
  • The self-banishment of UEFA sides would raise the prospect of greater diversity, with Europe having won six of the past eight tournaments and accounting for most of the teams in the competition’s latter stages.
    — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Violations give the commissioner broad authority to impose severe penalties, ranging from fines and suspensions to permanent banishment in order to protect the integrity of the league.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 31 July 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 10 Aug. 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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