DEPORT Synonyms: 65 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of deport are banish , exile , and transport . While all these words mean "to remove by authority from a state or country," deport implies sending out of the country an alien who has illegally entered or whose presence is judged inimical to the public welfare. // illegal aliens will be deported

Q: When might 'banish' be a better fit than 'deport'?

In some situations, the words banish and deport are roughly equivalent. However, banish implies compulsory removal from a country not necessarily one's own. // banished for seditious activities

Q: When is it sensible to use 'exile' instead of 'deport'?

The synonyms exile and deport are sometimes interchangeable, but exile may imply compulsory removal or an enforced or voluntary absence from one's own country. // a writer who exiled himself for political reasons

Q: When is 'transport' a more appropriate choice than 'deport'?

The meanings of transport and deport largely overlap; however, transport implies sending a convicted criminal to an overseas penal colony. // a convict who was transported to Australia

deport

verb

di-ˈpȯrt

Definition of deport next

as in to exile

to force to leave a country deported them back to their country of birth

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as in to acquit

to manage the actions of (oneself) in a particular way deported herself with grace and propriety at the country club cotillion

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How does the verb deport contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of deport are banish, exile, and transport. While all these words mean "to remove by authority from a state or country," deport implies sending out of the country an alien who has illegally entered or whose presence is judged inimical to the public welfare.

illegal aliens will be deported

When might banish be a better fit than deport?

In some situations, the words banish and deport are roughly equivalent. However, banish implies compulsory removal from a country not necessarily one's own.

banished for seditious activities

When is it sensible to use exile instead of deport?

The synonyms exile and deport are sometimes interchangeable, but exile may imply compulsory removal or an enforced or voluntary absence from one's own country.

a writer who exiled himself for political reasons

When is transport a more appropriate choice than deport?

The meanings of transport and deport largely overlap; however, transport implies sending a convicted criminal to an overseas penal colony.

a convict who was transported to Australia

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 deport Estrada Juarez was deported to Mexico by the next morning. —

Mathew Miranda updated March 31, Sacbee.com, 1 Apr. 2026 Kast won 58% of the vote after pledging to crack down on crime and deport immigrants without legal status. —

ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026 In a conversation with Robby, Santos, and social worker Dylan, Chantal, who has been a little cagey on the situation at home, finally opens up about her parents: They were deported to Haiti nine months ago after being detained at one of their immigration hearings. —

Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026 In some cases, children whose parents were deported remained in the U.S. with a parent who had not been deported or with extended family. —

Laura Clawson, JSTOR Daily, 6 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for deport

Recent Examples of Synonyms for deport

Verb

Once used by Iran's monarchy to exile political prisoners, this rock is deceptively fertile on the ground.

— Alexander Smith, NBC news, 25 Mar. 2026
In the Sixties in Greece, under military rule, the music of Mikis Theodorakis was prohibited by decree, its composer imprisoned and exiled.

— Christina Hioureas, Rolling Stone, 22 Mar. 2026

Definition of exile

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“Deport.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deport. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.

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