EVICT Synonyms: 52 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'evict' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of evict are eject , expel , and oust . While all these words mean "to drive or force out," evict chiefly applies to turning out of house and home. // evicted for nonpayment of rent

Q: When is 'eject' a more appropriate choice than 'evict'?

The words eject and evict can be used in similar contexts, but eject carries an especially strong implication of throwing or thrusting out from within as a physical action. // ejected an obnoxious patron from the bar

Q: When can 'expel' be used instead of 'evict'?

While in some cases nearly identical to evict , expel stresses a thrusting out or driving away especially permanently which need not be physical. // a student expelled from college

Q: In what contexts can 'oust' take the place of 'evict'?

The words oust and evict are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, oust implies removal or dispossession by power of the law or by force or compulsion. // police ousted the squatters

evict

verb

Definition of evict

as in to eject

to force (someone) to leave a place His landlord has threatened to evict him if he doesn't pay the rent soon. They were evicted from their apartment.

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How does the verb evict contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of evict are eject, expel, and oust. While all these words mean "to drive or force out," evict chiefly applies to turning out of house and home.

evicted for nonpayment of rent

When is eject a more appropriate choice than evict?

The words eject and evict can be used in similar contexts, but eject carries an especially strong implication of throwing or thrusting out from within as a physical action.

ejected an obnoxious patron from the bar

When can expel be used instead of evict?

While in some cases nearly identical to evict, expel stresses a thrusting out or driving away especially permanently which need not be physical.

a student expelled from college

In what contexts can oust take the place of evict?

The words oust and evict are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, oust implies removal or dispossession by power of the law or by force or compulsion.

police ousted the squatters

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 evict The draft ordinance would require landlords to provide a valid reason before evicting a tenant or declining to renew their lease. — Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026 Earlier this year, a location of Horn Barbecue in Lafayette was mysteriously evicted by the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office. — John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2026 Sooooo… Haley, Chuk and Kamu better find a way to poison Drew and Barrett against the icons and rally Taylor, La Trice, Mallory, Yash and, yes, even Melody to help target and evict the icons. — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Aug. 2026 Sarah Ferguson’s reported whereabouts have been revealed after she was evicted from Royal Lodge on January 31 following her ex-husband, former Prince Andrew’s, ties to Jeffrey Epstein. — Juliana Ukiomogbe, InStyle, 24 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for evict

Recent Examples of Synonyms for evict

Verb

Plate umpire Alan Porter tossed Vitello and first-base ump Jim Wolf ejected Webb, who was not pitching Friday.

— ABC News, ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026
Days later, a former NBA player who has used the WNBA as a vehicle for anti-trans advocacy was ejected from a Chicago Sky game, after engaging in an altercation with team guard Natasha Cloud.

— Odette Yousef, NPR, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of eject

Verb

As a result, students who should have been suspended, expelled, or otherwise held accountable for dangerous or disruptive behavior remained in the classroom.

— Cory Turner, NPR, 25 Aug. 2026
Like Castañeda, Ochoa — the boy expelled during Eisenhower’s operation — returned to the United States as a teenager.

— Isa Farfan, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of expel

Verb

On Wednesday, lawyers for Gomez filed a motion to dismiss the artist from the suit, and said she should have never been dragged into the case in the first place.

— Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 27 Aug. 2026
El-Sayed dismissed a potential fundraising gap in the race, which could occur if donors were pushed towards Rogers or if outside groups like AIPAC intervened on Rogers’ behalf.

— Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of dismiss

Verb

Kamin Jan, a former interior ministry employee deported from Iran, was shot dead in Takhar province in October 2025, just weeks after he was expelled from Iran.

— The Week US, TheWeek, 31 Aug. 2026
In short, what companies were taking money from the government to help deport people?

— Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of deport

Verb

Located in Jerusalem, al-Wasiti became, for years, the place to visit, empowering Palestinian artists exiled all over the world to return to a fountain of unity and belonging.

— Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 26 Aug. 2026
This thriller centers on disgraced or damaged agents of Britain’s MI6 intelligence service who have been exiled to a remote Greek island.

— Monitor reviewers, Christian Science Monitor, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of exile

Verb

The North American box office is still chasing the pre-pandemic levels of 2019, and despite a blockbuster summer, ticket sales are still lagging.

— Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
That’s some serious currency for Mahomes to be taking into Season 10 with so much still in front of him — both in terms of years to play, presumably, and goals to chase.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of chase

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“Evict.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/evict. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of evict

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