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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Raman wasn’t endorsed by any of her colleagues on the City Council, and she has been criticized by some community leaders in her district for not paying close enough attention to their concerns.—
Noah Goldberg,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
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The Grand Prix has been criticized as a processional where Saturday hot laps decide the result.—
Sahil Kapur,
NBC news,
7 June 2026
Verb
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Earlier this week, Next Generation Action Network, a civil rights organization that has been advocating in favor of Anthony, denounced the racial makeup of the jurors.—
Matt Lavietes,
NBC news,
6 June 2026
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The Iranian government denounced Persepolis and successfully lobbied for the film’s removal from the Bangkok International Film Festival.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
4 June 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 8 Jun. 2026.
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