ousted; ousting; ousts
Synonyms of oustnext

transitive verb

1
a
: to remove from or dispossess of property or position by legal action, by force, or by the compulsion of necessity
The rebels ousted the dictator from power.
The team was ousted from the tournament in the first round.
b
: to take away (something, such as a right or authority) : bar, remove
The states do not like attempts by Congress to oust their jurisdiction.
2
: to take the place of : supplant
… must be careful that quantity does not oust quality.R. V. Williams
Choose the Right Synonym for oust

eject, expel, oust, evict mean to drive or force out.

eject carries an especially strong implication of throwing or thrusting out from within as a physical action.

ejected an obnoxious patron from the bar

expel stresses a thrusting out or driving away especially permanently which need not be physical.

a student expelled from college

oust implies removal or dispossession by power of the law or by force or compulsion.

police ousted the squatters

evict chiefly applies to turning out of house and home.

evicted for nonpayment of rent

Examples of oust in a Sentence

The rebels ousted the dictator from power. Large national banks are ousting local banks in many communities.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Colonialism affects every aspect of life, from language to religion, from dress to traditions, and those legacies don’t necessarily disappear after an oppressor is ousted. Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026 Machado’s strategy could appear to have been a devil’s bargain—tempting Trump with the prospect of petrodollars in exchange for ousting Maduro, her nemesis. The Atlantic, 29 Jan. 2026 This is true even at high-stakes moments, such as during the chaotic period in November 2023 when he was briefly ousted as CEO. Preston Fore, Fortune, 29 Jan. 2026 Brian Johnson and Patullo were both ousted. Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 29 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for oust

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French oster, ouster to take off, remove, oust, from Late Latin obstare to ward off, from Latin, to stand in the way, from ob- in the way + stare to stand — more at ob-, stand

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of oust was in the 15th century

Cite this Entry

“Oust.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oust. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

oust

verb
: to force or drive out (as from office or from possession of something)

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