as in foreigners
a person who is not native to or known to a community
she seems to enjoy the odd distinction of being the only outsider in such a small community
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 outsiders
Still, Apple will continue to rely on outsiders for plenty of smaller chips.
—
Katie Tarasov, CNBC, 21 Apr. 2026
None of the three had anything to do with the crimes committed by their husbands, but they’ve all been shunned by neighbors and friends, and viewed as accomplices by outsiders.
—Sandra Dallas, Denver Post, 19 Apr. 2026
The disguise holds because outsiders never suspect it.
—María Carri, Artforum, 16 Apr. 2026
Both men are competing for seats that are expected to remain in Republicans’ hands, but Trump’s backing reflects a preference for the establishment candidates in races where other challengers are positioning themselves as conservative outsiders.
—Tia Mitchell, AJC.com, 15 Apr. 2026
Indoors, reportedly, one came across a corresponding ease, to the surprise of outsiders.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
That kind of partner-specific tolerance combined with aggression toward outsiders strengthens cooperation and reduces competition.
—Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 13 Apr. 2026
The setting may be out of time, but speaks to the present, as the villagers’ conservatism manifests as rejection, suspicion and persecution — treating outsiders or non-conformists as an invading pathogen.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 12 Apr. 2026
Lamar’s win was widely celebrated as a milestone for hip-hop and contemporary music, challenging long-standing hierarchies that had treated hip-hop (and other popular genres) as outsiders.
—Kara Rogers Britannica Editors Apr. 10, Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Apr. 2026
Katie Tarasov, CNBC, 21 Apr. 2026
None of the three had anything to do with the crimes committed by their husbands, but they’ve all been shunned by neighbors and friends, and viewed as accomplices by outsiders.
—Sandra Dallas, Denver Post, 19 Apr. 2026
The disguise holds because outsiders never suspect it.
—María Carri, Artforum, 16 Apr. 2026
Both men are competing for seats that are expected to remain in Republicans’ hands, but Trump’s backing reflects a preference for the establishment candidates in races where other challengers are positioning themselves as conservative outsiders.
—Tia Mitchell, AJC.com, 15 Apr. 2026
Indoors, reportedly, one came across a corresponding ease, to the surprise of outsiders.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
That kind of partner-specific tolerance combined with aggression toward outsiders strengthens cooperation and reduces competition.
—Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 13 Apr. 2026
The setting may be out of time, but speaks to the present, as the villagers’ conservatism manifests as rejection, suspicion and persecution — treating outsiders or non-conformists as an invading pathogen.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 12 Apr. 2026
Lamar’s win was widely celebrated as a milestone for hip-hop and contemporary music, challenging long-standing hierarchies that had treated hip-hop (and other popular genres) as outsiders.
—Kara Rogers Britannica Editors Apr. 10, Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outsiders
Noun
-
The move comes after an audit found more than half of the state's commercial trucking licenses issued to foreigners were issued illegally.—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
López Aliaga, the ultraconservative former mayor of Peru’s capital, Lima, focuses on a hard-line security agenda, proposing to build prisons in the country’s Amazon region, allowing judges to conceal their identities and expelling foreigners who are living illegally in Peru.—
Franklin Briceño,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Online and offline, motherhood has started to resemble a real-life Truman Show — a performance carried out under constant observation, where strangers across the country appoint themselves judge and jury.—
Micah Barkley,
Bloomberg,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The earnestness of these calls to join is refreshing compared to the distance currently felt in many places, where the disconnection can make neighbors feel like strangers.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Outsiders.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outsiders. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
