ostracize

verb

Definition of ostracizenext
as in to criticize
to not allow (someone) to be included in a group; to exclude (someone) from a group She was ostracized by the scientific community for many years because of her radical political beliefs. The other girls ostracized her because of the way she dressed.

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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 ostracize Trump himself took a decidedly neutral stance that didn’t ostracize his celebrity fans. — Dan Adler, Vanity Fair, 29 July 2026 Three years later, censured by his Senate colleagues, ostracized by his party, and ignored by the press, McCarthy drank himself to death, a broken man at the age of 48. — Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 10 July 2026 Carlos and Smith were ostracized for their actions for decades. — Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 July 2026 At the same time, sports stars such as the former tennis champion Martina Navratilova—a lesbian who is a longtime LGBTQ-rights campaigner—have been ostracized after speaking in favor of restricting the women’s category to biological females. — Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for ostracize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ostracize
  1. criticize
  2. denounce
  3. attack
Verb
  • The move came days after Stephens publicly criticized EMCC and Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference leadership over changes to the league’s football schedule and playoff format.
    — Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also defended the decision to increase bond purchases earlier last month, after investor Stanley Druckenmiller criticized the move.
    — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of criticize
Verb
  • Democratic divisions haven’t disappeared El-Sayed, who would be the country’s first Muslim senator, has denounced antisemitism while fiercely criticizing Israel for its military operations in Gaza.
    — Joey Cappelletti, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026
  • At least 10 high-profile Democrats have denounced the comments, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).
    — Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of denounce
Verb
  • In Iran, Afghans have been attacked by mobs and baselessly accused of collaborating with Israel; some legal residents have had police tear up their documents in front of them.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 31 Aug. 2026
  • On Saturday, an Ebola response team was attacked on the outskirts of the town of Mambasa in Ituri province while responding to a call to secure a body.
    — Constant Same Bagalwa, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of attack

Browse Nearby Words

ostracisms
ostracize
ostracized
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Cite this Entry

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

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