EXILES Synonyms: 68 Similar and Opposite Words

exiles 1 of 2

noun

plural of exile

as in expulsions

the forced removal from a homeland the exile of French settlers from Nova Scotia resulted in the birth of the Cajun community in the U.S.

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as in refugees

a person forced to emigrate for political reasons after being overthrown in a coup, the dictator spent the remainder of his life as an exile in a string of less-than-welcoming countries

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exiles

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of exile

as in banishes

to force to leave a country with their conquest of the Moors complete, Ferdinand and Isabella next exiled the Jews from Spain

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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 exiles

Noun

Avila was born in Hialeah to exiles who left Castro’s repressive regime in Cuba — a biography certain to resonate in South Florida. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 25 Aug. 2026 The Iranian regime has been killing troublesome exiles since the Islamic Revolution, in 1979. — Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2026 Pure catharsis that exiles can dedicate in the name of those silenced on the island. — Sarah Moreno august 7, Miami Herald, 7 Aug. 2026 In his brutal eight-year reign, Amin was estimated by exiles and human rights groups to have caused the deaths of at least 300,000 people and expelled the country’s Asian population. — Andrew Fifield, New York Times, 30 July 2026 In hard years, Noe Terrebonne, the great-great-grandson of Acadian exiles, would do a bit of smuggling for Li Shan, the Chinese proprietor of a shrimp-drying platform on Bayou Andre, in the marsh north-west of Cheniere Disparue. — Literary Hub, 16 July 2026 In the 1930s and 1940s, postrevolutionary Mexico emerged as both an incubator of modern art and haven for European refugees, political exiles and other expats. — Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026 Many Latinos, including Cubans and Cuban Americans living in the United States, were in favor of this action, especially the old generation of Miami Cuban and Venezuelan exiles who have long supported the Republican Party. — Juan Carlos Albarran, The Conversation, 13 July 2026 However, the most pressing issue facing Tibetan exiles is the looming gap in leadership. — Charlie Campbell, Time, 9 July 2026

Verb

This practice exiles him completely from the realm of literary fiction; some might even question whether Patterson is really a writer. — Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for exiles

Noun

Following the 2014 guidance, many school districts shifted away from suspensions and expulsions, adopting restorative justice policies that prioritize dialogue over punishment.

— Brittney Melton, NPR, 27 Aug. 2026
Rights groups have raised concerns about the treatment of migrants and asylum seekers in Tunisia since the EU agreement, including reports of collective expulsions, racial violence, arbitrary detention and abuses against Black migrants.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of expulsions

Noun

Little Saigon developed in the 1970s and ’80s, as refugees from South Vietnam fled the aftermath of the Vietnam War and moved to Southern California.

— Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 26 Aug. 2026
American sentiment was turning against newcomers, whether Vietnamese refugees, Cuban and Haitian boat people, Central Americans fleeing civil wars or Mexicans looking for economic opportunity.

— Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of refugees

Verb

That is why, when Diana falls in love with Lalo, the King simply banishes him.

— Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 3 Aug. 2026
Mary appears to have a form of treatment-resistant schizophrenia, until chemotherapy, following a diagnosis of lymphoma, banishes her psychiatric symptoms.

— Julia M. Klein, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026

Definition of banishes

Noun

For about a decade, the Sacramento museum’s trustees have discussed creating a traveling exhibition on mass deportations.

— Isa Farfan, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026
Among suggested changes are expanding voting rights and ending ICE detentions and deportations.

— Gary Franks, Hartford Courant, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of deportations

Verb

The Sioux Falls regional water reclamation facility, which transports and treats wastewater from the city and surrounding communities is receiving $81 million in the budget.

— Gabriel Brito, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 28 Aug. 2026
And soon Scotty’s got a new task, too, after A’Sha transports him to a Jeffries tube to get the pod ready.

— Keith Phipps, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of transports

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

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Synonyms of exiles

noun

verb

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