as in criticized
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.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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 ostracized
The former prince Andrew has been pretty much ostracized from the British royal family since his arrest.
—
Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 16 Mar. 2026
They’ve been ostracized from an industry that, for one dramatic night in March 2003, celebrated them as winners.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 12 Mar. 2026
Rather than be ostracized for a blocking gaffe in the 2023 team’s overtime loss in the Super Bowl, Burford worked toward becoming a swing tackle, then replaced Bartch at left guard.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2026
Mounds of floral tributes piled up outside the gates of Buckingham Palace and Diana’s home at Kensington Palace to mourn a princess who had been ostracized by the royal family after her divorce from Charles in 1992.
—ABC News, 22 Feb. 2026
Jackson also touched on sports at a time when Black athletes were ostracized for kneeling during the national anthem.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 17 Feb. 2026
As a result, athletes may be less likely to seek treatment and to come forward with their issues for fear of not wanting to have restrictions on their practice and competition put in place, of being ostracized from their teammates or of losing sponsorship or scholarship opportunities.
—Emily Hemendinger, The Conversation, 13 Feb. 2026
Roper, meanwhile, felt ostracized by her bandmates.
—Andy Greene, VIBE.com, 9 Feb. 2026
Roper, meanwhile, felt ostracized by her bandmates.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 7 Feb. 2026
Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 16 Mar. 2026
They’ve been ostracized from an industry that, for one dramatic night in March 2003, celebrated them as winners.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 12 Mar. 2026
Rather than be ostracized for a blocking gaffe in the 2023 team’s overtime loss in the Super Bowl, Burford worked toward becoming a swing tackle, then replaced Bartch at left guard.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2026
Mounds of floral tributes piled up outside the gates of Buckingham Palace and Diana’s home at Kensington Palace to mourn a princess who had been ostracized by the royal family after her divorce from Charles in 1992.
—ABC News, 22 Feb. 2026
Jackson also touched on sports at a time when Black athletes were ostracized for kneeling during the national anthem.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 17 Feb. 2026
As a result, athletes may be less likely to seek treatment and to come forward with their issues for fear of not wanting to have restrictions on their practice and competition put in place, of being ostracized from their teammates or of losing sponsorship or scholarship opportunities.
—Emily Hemendinger, The Conversation, 13 Feb. 2026
Roper, meanwhile, felt ostracized by her bandmates.
—Andy Greene, VIBE.com, 9 Feb. 2026
Roper, meanwhile, felt ostracized by her bandmates.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 7 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ostracized
Verb
-
Last season during a livestream, Nacua criticized NFL officials and made a gesture regarded as antisemitic.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Canada's Prime Minister and Quebec's legislature criticized the CEO for the language lapse.—
Allison Lampert,
USA Today,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Kuwait’s Al Salmi tanker was attacked at the port connected to the United Arab Emirates city better known as a destination for influencers, Reuters and The New York Times reported.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The Houthis have previously attacked commercial ships in the Red Sea to disrupt the flow of oil, gas and other commodities through the Bab el-Mandeb strait.—
Lucia I Suarez Sang,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In an interview with public radio station France Inter on Monday morning, Bagayoko said he was disappointed that the presidential palace had not condemned the comments, although Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez and Culture Minister Catherine Pégard both denounced them.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Outside the courthouse in Manhattan, small groups of supporters have denounced the trial as illegitimate.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ostracized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ostracized. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
