Synonyms of relegate

relegate

verb

ˈre-lə-ˌgāt 

1

as in to banish

to force to leave a country

courtiers and generals who incurred the emperor's disfavor were soon relegated to the farther reaches of the empire

Synonyms & Similar Words

• banish
• exile
• deport
• evict
• transport
• displace
• dismiss
• exclude
• eliminate
• expel
• expatriate
• eject
• run out
• spurn
• cast out
• kick out
• oust
• reject
• ostracize
• excommunicate
• repudiate
• dispossess
• throw out
• expulse

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• receive
• accept
• admit
• naturalize
• repatriate
• take in
• entertain
• shelter
• house
• harbor

2

as in to classify

to arrange or assign according to type

some psychologists argue that the syndrome should be relegated to a different class of autism

Synonyms & Similar Words

• classify
• rank
• distinguish
• categorize
• separate
• group
• distribute
• place
• sort
• grade
• type
• organize
• identify
• compartmentalize
• codify
• class
• recognize
• list
• digest
• refer
• peg
• file
• range
• order
• dispose
• shelve
• compartment
• break down
• assort
• catalog
• cull
• systematize
• alphabetize
• reclassify
• index
• marshall
• draw up
• catalogue
• array
• pigeonhole
• winnow
• marshal
• sift
• regroup
• cluster
• set
• clump
• sieve
• screen
• recategorize
• colligate
• subcategorize

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• confuse
• lump
• scramble
• mix (up)
• disarrange
• jumble
• misclassify
• mistype
• missort

Synonym Chooser

How is the word relegate distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of relegate are commit, confide, consign, and entrust. While all these words mean "to assign to a person or place for a definite purpose," relegate implies a consigning to a particular class or sphere often with a suggestion of getting rid of.

relegated to an obscure position in the company

Where would commit be a reasonable alternative to relegate?

While in some cases nearly identical to relegate, commit may express the general idea of delivering into another's charge or the special sense of transferring to a superior power or to a special place of custody.

committed the felon to prison

When is it sensible to use confide instead of relegate?

Although the words confide and relegate have much in common, confide implies entrusting with great assurance or reliance.

confided complete control of my affairs to my attorney

When could consign be used to replace relegate?

In some situations, the words consign and relegate are roughly equivalent. However, consign suggests removing from one's control with formality or finality.

consigned the damaging notes to the fire

When might entrust be a better fit than relegate?

While the synonyms entrust and relegate are close in meaning, entrust implies committing with trust and confidence.

the president is entrusted with broad powers

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of relegate

The middle court belongs to the winners, while teams that lose are relegated to the surrounding courts (or the sideline to wait their turn). —Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 22 Oct. 2025

With sciatica relegating LeBron James to the sidelines, Doncic was unstoppable as a scorer and put up 43 points. —Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2025

However, nowadays Cho has relegated the storyboarding work to AI. —Denni Hu, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2025

The injury is also expected to give Kaiir Elam a start on the outside after he had been relegated to rotational duty in the past two weeks. —Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Oct. 2025