Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense ostracizes, present participle ostracizing, past tense, past participle ostracizedregional note: in BRIT, also use ostracise
verb [usually passive]
If someone is ostracized, people deliberately behave in an unfriendly way towards them and do not allow them to take part in any of their social activities.
[formal]
She claims she's being ostracized by some members of her local community. [beVERB-ed]
Synonyms: exclude, reject, boycott, avoid More Synonyms of ostracize
ostracize in British English
or ostracise (ˈɒstrəˌsaɪz)
verb(transitive)
1.
to exclude or banish (a person) from a particular group, society, etc
2.
(in ancient Greece) to punish by temporary exile
Derived forms
ostracism (ˈostracism)
noun
ostracizable (ˈostraˌcizable) or ostracisable (ˈostraˌcisable)
adjective
ostracizer (ˈostraˌcizer) or ostraciser (ˈostraˌciser)
noun
Word origin
C17: from Greek ostrakizein to select someone for banishment by voting on potsherds; see ostracon
ostracize in American English
(ˈɑstrəˌsaɪz)
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈostraˌcized or ˈostraˌcizing
to banish, bar, exclude, etc. by ostracism
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈbanish
Word origin
Gr ostrakizein, to exile by votes written on tiles or potsherds < ostrakon, a shell, potsherd, akin to osteon, bone: see ossify
Examples of 'ostracize' in a sentence
ostracize
The money would soon run out, Posy would ostracize her, and there wasn't a suitable job for miles.
Christina Jones TICKLED PINK (2002)
In other languages
ostracize
British English: ostracize VERB
If someone is ostracized, people deliberately behave in an unfriendly way towards them and do not allow them to take part in any of their social activities.
She claims she's being ostracized by some members of her local community.
American English: ostracize
Brazilian Portuguese: condenar ao ostracismo
Chinese: 排斥
European Spanish: hacer el vacío a
French: ostraciser
German: ächten
Italian: dare l'ostracismo a
Japanese: 排斥する
Korean: 배척당하다
European Portuguese: condenar ao ostracismo
Latin American Spanish: hacer el vacío a
(verb)
Definition
to exclude or banish (a person) from a particular group or from society
She is being ostracized by members of her local community.
Synonyms
exclude
The orchestra excluded children younger than twelve.
reject
Paloma has rejected the values of her rich parents.
boycott
The main opposition parties are boycotting the elections.
avoid
exile
Dante was exiled from Florence in 1302 because of his political activities.
expel
An American academic was expelled from the country yesterday.
snub
banish
He was banished from England.
shun
From that time forward everybody shunned him.
shut out
blacklist
the full list of blacklisted airports
A government official disclosed that they had secretly been blacklisted.
cold-shoulder
cast out
excommunicate
In 1656 Spinoza was excommunicated because of his religious views.
blackball
Members can blackball candidates in secret ballots.
give (someone) the cold shoulder
send to Coventry
Opposites
include
,
receive
,
accept
,
admit
,
welcome
,
approve
,
greet
,
embrace
Additional synonyms
in the sense of banish
Definition
to send into exile
He was banished from England.
Synonyms
expel,
transport,
exile,
outlaw,
deport,
drive away,
expatriate,
excommunicate
in the sense of blackball
Definition
to exclude (someone) from a group, etc.
Members can blackball candidates in secret ballots.
Synonyms
remove,
bar,
ban,
exclude,
get rid of,
veto,
embargo,
expel,
throw out,
oust,
snub,
vote against,
force out,
evict,
disallow,
shut out,
repudiate,
blacklist,
ostracize,
debar,
drum out
in the sense of blacklist
Definition
to put (someone) on a blacklist
the full list of blacklisted airportsA government official disclosed that they had secretly been blacklisted.
Synonyms
exclude,
bar,
ban,
reject,
rule out,
veto,
boycott,
embargo,
expel,
vote against,
preclude,
disallow,
repudiate,
proscribe,
ostracize,
debar,
blackball
Nearby words of
ostracize
ostentation
ostentatious
ostracism
ostracize
ostrich
other
other-worldly
Synonyms of 'ostracize'
ostracize
Explore 'ostracize' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of boycott
Definition
to refuse to deal with (an organization or country) as a protest against its actions or policy
The main opposition parties are boycotting the elections.
Synonyms
embargo,
reject,
snub,
refrain from,
stay away from,
spurn,
steer clear of,
blacklist,
black,
cold-shoulder,
ostracize,
refuse to take part in,
turn your back on,
blackball
in the sense of excommunicate
Definition
to expel (someone) from membership of a church and ban him or her from taking part in its services
In 1656 Spinoza was excommunicated because of his religious views.
Synonyms
expel,
ban,
remove,
exclude,
denounce,
banish,
eject,
repudiate,
proscribe,
cast out,
unchurch,
anathematize
in the sense of exile
Definition
to expel (someone) from his or her country
Dante was exiled from Florence in 1302 because of his political activities.
Synonyms
banish,
expel,
throw out,
deport,
oust,
drive out,
eject,
expatriate,
proscribe,
cast out,
ostracize
in the sense of expel
Definition
to dismiss from a school, club, etc., permanently
An American academic was expelled from the country yesterday.
Synonyms
banish,
exile,
oust,
deport,
expatriate,
evict,
force to leave,
proscribe
in the sense of reject
Definition
to refuse to accept, use, or believe
Paloma has rejected the values of her rich parents.