expel
verb
transitive verb
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To expel is to drive out, and its usual noun is expulsion. Expel is similar to eject, but expel suggests pushing out while eject suggests throwing out. Also, ejecting may only be temporary: the player ejected from a game may be back tomorrow, but the student expelled from school is probably out forever.
Synonyms
- banish
- boot (out)
- bounce
- cast out
- chase
- dismiss
- drum (out)
- eject
- extrude
- kick out
- oust
- out
- rout
- run off
- throw out
- turf (out) [chiefly British]
- turn out
Example Sentences
Jen Juneau, Peoplemag, 1 Sep. 2022 Experts said that the diplomatic cost of such a move could be significant and that Mr. Putin might expel all American diplomats from the country. New York Times, 29 July 2022 Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics said his country would expel 13 Russian diplomats and staff, and shut two Russian consulates. Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2022 On Friday, the Kremlin responded and vowed to expel 10 U.S. diplomats from the country, the same number of foreign dignitaries Biden pledged to remove in his sanctions. Jake Dima, Washington Examiner, 18 Apr. 2021 Provide retraining to meet cost goals or potentially expel them from Medicare. Andrew Wickline, STAT, 27 Aug. 2022 Over the past two years, Title 42 has allowed U.S. border agents to expel migrants over 1.8 million times without screening them for asylum. Camilo Montoya-galvez, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2022 The Biden administration is also just weeks away from lifting the Title 42 order that allowed federal authorities to quickly expel most migrants coming to the U.S. since the early days of the pandemic. Byrick Klein,averi Harper, ABC News, 18 Apr. 2022 The measure, known as Title 42, has allowed the U.S. to expeditiously expel migrants at the southern border without permitting them to seek asylum for reasons of public health. Grayson Quay, The Week, 2 Apr. 2022 See More Word History
Middle English expellen, from Latin expellere, from ex- + pellere to drive — more at felt
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
expel
verb
expel
verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- eject
- banish
- out
- dismiss
- chase
- evict
- remove
- oust
- sack
- extrude
- kick out
- cast out
- run off
- throw out
- rout
- turn out
- fire
- ostracize
- bounce
- send packing
- dispossess
- deport
- shut out
- give one the gate
- drum (out)
- exile
- terminate
- deforce
- displace
- boot (out)
- turf (out)
- read out
- expatriate
- discharge
- can
- release
- retire
- muster out
- defenestrate
- ax
- cashier
- pink-slip
- axe
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- receive
- take
- accept
- admit
- welcome
- take in
- entertain
- shelter
- house
- lodge
- harbor
Synonyms & Similar Words
- radiate
- cast
- emit
- release
- emanate
- eliminate
- exhale
- evolve
- discharge
- issue
- irradiate
- shoot
- evacuate
- vent
- pour
- throw out
- excrete
- eject
- give out
- secrete
- erupt
- send (out)
- exude
- expire
- ooze
- spray
- squirt
- gush
- spew
- jet
- spurt
- spout
- outpour
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- absorb
- inhale
- take up
- soak (up)
- suck (up)
- sponge
Synonyms & Similar Words
- eject
- erupt
- spit
- disgorge
- emit
- belch
- spew
- hurl
- pour
- fire
- spurt
- release
- jet
- spout
- stream
- exhale
- eruct
- squirt
- emanate
- heave
- gush
- surge
- toss
- spring
- issue
- vent
- fling
- discharge
- shoot
- launch
- cast
- pitch
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- restrain
- contain
- shut (in or up)
- bottle (up)
Synonyms & Similar Words
- exhale
- expectorate
- blow (out)
- breathe (out)
- expire
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- inhale
- inspire
- inbreathe
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of expel are eject, evict, and oust. While all these words mean "to drive or force out," expel stresses a thrusting out or driving away especially permanently which need not be physical.
While the synonyms eject and expel are close in meaning, eject carries an especially strong implication of throwing or thrusting out from within as a physical action.
The words evict and expel are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, evict chiefly applies to turning out of house and home.
While in some cases nearly identical to expel, oust implies removal or dispossession by power of the law or by force or compulsion.