BLACKBALLING Synonyms: 22 Similar and Opposite Words

blackballing

verb

present participle of blackball

as in dismissing

to reject by or as if by a vote he was disappointed to learn that he had been blackballed by the fraternity

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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 blackballing Social media rumors swirled that the league was blackballing her because of her activism. — Rebecca Tauber, New York Times, 4 May 2026 Last week, Google made sweepstakes ineligible for advertising certification, effectively blackballing them. — Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 10 Nov. 2025 In the past, the Young Money rapper has accused Roc Nation of blackballing her and also owing her $200 million. — Michael Saponara, Billboard, 22 Oct. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for blackballing

Verb

William Roberson Anyone dismissing the Slingshot (in any form) on practicality grounds is missing the point by a light year or two - the Slingshot makes a Miata seem like a spacious minivan.

— William Roberson, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
She was especially hurt that some of the people who criticized Cox most harshly, dismissing him as craven and disingenuous, were those who had the closest relationships with him.

— McKay Coppins, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of dismissing

Verb

Now a new report on the fallout from the investigation into that flyover is rattling the Defense Department and could lead to further delay in replacing the Army leader ousted for refusing to kill the probe.

— Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
After slowly changing the theatrical underworld as the king of midnight movies, Curry spent the rest of his acting career gleefully refusing to be pinned down.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of refusing

Verb

The case has become a national cultural fixation and a social media spectacle, gripping and dividing spectators well beyond the Massachusetts courtroom where the 36-year-old mother is charged with killing her three young children.

— Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2026
On the last day of February, the US and Israel launched a war on Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and attacking targets across the country.

— Mick Krever, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of killing

Verb

But even if the bill passes both chambers, the White House earlier said that the President’s advisers would recommend vetoing it.

— Chad de Guzman, Time, 27 July 2026
But vetoing the bill could have been politically damaging for Republicans ahead of the midterm elections, with the rising cost of living and housing on the top of voters' minds.

— Joey Garrison, USA Today, 11 July 2026

Definition of vetoing

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blackballed

blackballing

blackballs

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“Blackballing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blackballing. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of blackballing

verb

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