ostracize

American  

[os-truh-sahyz] / ˈɒs trəˌsaɪz /

especially British, ostracise

verb (used with object)

ostracized, ostracizing

1. to exclude, by general consent, from society, friendship, conversation, privileges, etc..

   His friends ostracized him after his father's arrest.

   Synonyms:

   blacklist, snub, shun

   Antonyms:

   accept

2. to banish (a person) from their native country; expatriate.

3. (in ancient Greece) to banish (a citizen) temporarily by popular vote.

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ostracize British  

/ ˈɒstrəˌsaɪz /

verb

1. to exclude or banish (a person) from a particular group, society, etc

2. (in ancient Greece) to punish by temporary exile

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Other Word Forms

• ostracism noun
• ostracizable adjective
• ostracization noun
• ostracizer noun

Etymology

Origin of ostracize

First recorded in 1640–50; from Greek ostrakízein, equivalent to óstrak(on) “potsherd, tile, ballot” (akin to óstreion oyster ( def. ) ) + -izein -ize ( def. )

Example Sentences

Individuals all over the country were fired from their jobs, shunned, ostracized and run out of town for insufficient reverence for Kirk on social media.

From Salon

When the Athenians voted to ostracize him, he became a Persian governor.

From The Wall Street Journal

He declared himself a conscientious objector during World War II. He was imprisoned, abandoned by his family and returned to Birmingham only to be further ostracized.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Crawfie was ostracized as a result, and ‘doing a Crawfie’ became the shorthand term for any Palace employee who betrayed intimate family details for financial gain.”

From The Wall Street Journal

“The Traitors” is a social game, so when Funches’ early big swing at another contestant misses terribly, the rest of the players instantly ostracize him.

From Salon

Related Words

• blackball
• blacklist
• exclude
• excommunicate
• expel
• shun
• snub