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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Recent Examples of ostracize
Summers is a former Treasury secretary and Harvard University president who has been ostracized from a number of organizations after Epstein files made public earlier showed his close relationship with Epstein.
—
Meg Kinnard, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
As a consolation, Bradley invites Linda on a trip to Bangkok to discuss the company’s merger plans, but she’s immediately ostracized on the private plane, where the men gather around a laptop to mock her Survivor audition tape.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
The latter denies it, but his behavior responds to the fear of being ostracized if any suspicions were to arise.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 27 Jan. 2026
Several warned that the promotion of this biblical doctrine will ostracize students of other faiths.
—Cate Charron, IndyStar, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ostracize
Meg Kinnard, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
As a consolation, Bradley invites Linda on a trip to Bangkok to discuss the company’s merger plans, but she’s immediately ostracized on the private plane, where the men gather around a laptop to mock her Survivor audition tape.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
The latter denies it, but his behavior responds to the fear of being ostracized if any suspicions were to arise.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 27 Jan. 2026
Several warned that the promotion of this biblical doctrine will ostracize students of other faiths.
—Cate Charron, IndyStar, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ostracize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ostracize
Verb
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Public health experts also criticized the president for making unfounded claims about highly politicized health issues.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
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Trump has criticized the selection of Bad Bunny, and rock band Green Day, to perform at the Super Bowl.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Rojas was never treated by a physician while at El Helicoide, where human rights groups have denounced cases of cruel, inhuman treatment and torture.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
7 Feb. 2026
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In a 2024 reflection on Hurricane Maria, which leveled parts of Puerto Rico and left many without power for months, Bad Bunny denounces the government's role in the chaos that ensued after the Category 4 storm swept through the island.—
Luis Giraldo,
CBS News,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Mobs attacked television vans and set cars ablaze as overrun hospitals struggled to cope with scores of injured people.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
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The complication is not well understood but appears to be the result of the virus prompting the immune system to attack a certain protein that some brain cells produce.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ostracize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ostracize. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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