1
as in exclusion
treatment that is deliberately exclusionary
Teenagers may act against their better judgement to avoid social ostracism.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
2
as in exile
the forced removal from a homeland
His family celebrated his safe return after nearly a decade of political ostracism.
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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 ostracism
The family struggled with ostracism and loneliness.
—
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
Dissenting opinion brings ostracism, loss of work and grants and friendships.
—Sal Rodriguez, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
But this ostracism has also been felt more widely across Israeli society, including among the large numbers of Israelis who oppose the war.
—Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2025
In ancient humans and other primates, reputational damage can bar access to food and mates, incite physical confrontations and, in extreme cases, lead to potentially fatal ostracism.
—Clarissa Brincat, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ostracism
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
Dissenting opinion brings ostracism, loss of work and grants and friendships.
—Sal Rodriguez, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
But this ostracism has also been felt more widely across Israeli society, including among the large numbers of Israelis who oppose the war.
—Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2025
In ancient humans and other primates, reputational damage can bar access to food and mates, incite physical confrontations and, in extreme cases, lead to potentially fatal ostracism.
—Clarissa Brincat, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ostracism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ostracism
Noun
-
Advancing through the exclusion zone on their way to Kyiv, soldiers dug trenches in radioactive soil in the Red Forest — one of the most radioactive areas on Earth — and exposed themselves to high levels of contamination.—
Benjamin Mack-Jackson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The Russian Pavilion has become a lightning rod for political controversy in the weeks leading up to the opening of the Biennale, with voices across Europe’s arts and culture sectors urging its exclusion as the country’s war against Ukraine continues.—
Tessa Solomon,
ARTnews.com,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
All this taught me to understand the daily humiliations one experiences as an exile and refugee in a world where nobody wants you.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
-
In exile, Carvajal began making grandiose denunciations of Maduro on his personal blog (now taken down) and on social media.—
Max Saltman,
CNN Money,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Long engaged with questions of violence, displacement, and the politics of gender, Malani here turns to the myth of Orestes to probe the historical roots of power and its persistence in the present.—
Eana Kim,
ARTnews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Turnout there was 23%, but officials cited challenges including large-scale displacement and outdated civil registry records.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Suspensions and expulsions do not belong in a phone policy.—
Krista Spurgin,
Denver Post,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Only a handful of American journalists operate in China after tit-for-tat expulsions.—
Andy Browne,
semafor.com,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The appeals court ruled in September 2025 that Mid Vermont Christian must be allowed to participate in state athletics, after two years of banishment had passed.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Like there was a demon in his lungs, fighting the last bit of banishment.—
Courtney Crowder,
USA Today,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ostracism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ostracism. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
