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
Rudolph is ostracized by other reindeer because he was born with a shiny, glowing red nose.
—
John Tufts, IndyStar, 5 Dec. 2025
Such is the case with this genre-defiant quasi-thriller, in which a handsome but borderline unhinged Southern Californian guy (Sam Daly) becomes ostracized and kicked to the curb by his friends, and then goes on a road trip.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 26 Nov. 2025
Horrified Orcadians ostracized the miscreant and twice tried to burn down his home.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
While going on a spiel about the pitfalls of ostracizing family members for voting MAGA, the TV personality pivoted to his personal experience.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 21 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ostracize
John Tufts, IndyStar, 5 Dec. 2025
Such is the case with this genre-defiant quasi-thriller, in which a handsome but borderline unhinged Southern Californian guy (Sam Daly) becomes ostracized and kicked to the curb by his friends, and then goes on a road trip.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 26 Nov. 2025
Horrified Orcadians ostracized the miscreant and twice tried to burn down his home.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
While going on a spiel about the pitfalls of ostracizing family members for voting MAGA, the TV personality pivoted to his personal experience.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 21 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ostracize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ostracize
Verb
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No less than a half-dozen GOP senators publicly criticized the Department of Justice for investigating Powell over Hill testimony last year about the Fed headquarters’ renovation.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
13 Jan. 2026
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Last week, Graham Knaus, the chief executive of the California State Association of Counties, criticized Newsom’s budget for not responding to the cost burdens shifting to local governments.—
Andrew Graham,
Sacbee.com,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The most bitter exchange came when Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat from Maryland, denounced Rubio’s role in gutting humanitarian aid.—
Dexter Filkins,
New Yorker,
12 Jan. 2026
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Trump has repeatedly denounced Powell for alleged overspending tied to the central bank's renovation.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Kyiv — Russia attacked Ukraine with a hypersonic Oreshnik missile overnight Thursday, a rare use of one of its most advanced weapons during the latest onslaught targeting the country amid freezing temperatures.—
Kosta Gak,
CNN Money,
9 Jan. 2026
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Russia attacked Ukraine overnight with 242 drones and 36 missiles, the Ukrainian Air Force said Friday morning.—
Morgan Winsor,
ABC News,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ostracize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ostracize. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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