as in to criticize
to not allow (someone) to be included in a group; to exclude (someone) from a group
She was ostracized by the scientific community for many years because of her radical political beliefs. The other girls ostracized her because of the way she dressed.
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Recent Examples of ostracize
She was subsequently kicked off the worship team, her family was ostracized and the man who’d attacked her was left unpunished.
—
Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
He’s ostracized, bullied, ridiculed, beaten.
—Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
Once ostracized for its saturated‑fat profile, tallow is enjoying a resurgence since the USDA revamped its dietary guidelines in January, emphasizing oils with essential fatty acids yet still leaving space for such fats as butter and beef tallow.
—David Dickstein, Oc Register, 22 Apr. 2026
Though ostracized in their time, people who resisted internment are now seen as civil-rights pioneers.
—Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ostracize
Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
He’s ostracized, bullied, ridiculed, beaten.
—Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
Once ostracized for its saturated‑fat profile, tallow is enjoying a resurgence since the USDA revamped its dietary guidelines in January, emphasizing oils with essential fatty acids yet still leaving space for such fats as butter and beef tallow.
—David Dickstein, Oc Register, 22 Apr. 2026
Though ostracized in their time, people who resisted internment are now seen as civil-rights pioneers.
—Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ostracize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ostracize
Verb
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While DeGette has focused her comments on the need for humanitarian aid, Kiros has more directly criticized Israel and questioned its legitimacy as a state.—
Elliott Wenzler,
Denver Post,
31 May 2026
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The posts criticizing White's coaching decisions, rotations and accountability picked up real traction across Clark-heavy corners of X after the blowout.—
Dan Zaksheske OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
31 May 2026
Verb
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As the video drew more attention, protesters gathered at the Shelby Police Department Friday to denounce the officer’s actions and call on the department to take action before he was fired, CNN affiliate WBTV reported.—
Zoe Sottile,
CNN Money,
31 May 2026
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The song, and its accompanying video featuring Bryan dancing on a dock, was ripped online, and launched a string of comments denouncing the track — about, yep, fishing and hunting, golfing and drinking — as the product of a large language model.—
Jonathan Bernstein,
Rolling Stone,
30 May 2026
Verb
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Rather than attacking all rapidly growing cells, as chemotherapy does, the drug targets a key cancer-driving pathway known as KRAS, which is involved in more than 90% of pancreatic tumors.—
Luzdelia Caballero,
CBS News,
5 June 2026
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Akindahunsi is accused of attacking several women the night of May 28.—
Summer Lin,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ostracize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ostracize. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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