expel
verb
ex·pel ik-ˈspel 
expelled; expelling
transitive verb
1
: to force out : eject
expelled the smoke from her lungs
2
: to force to leave (a place, an organization, etc.) by official action : take away rights or privileges of membership
was expelled from college
expellable
ik-ˈspe-lə-bəl
adjective 
Did you know?
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
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The club may expel members who do not follow the rules. She was expelled from school for bad behavior. expel air from the lungs
Recent Examples on the Web Von Ehlinger resigned from the Idaho state House of Representatives in April 2021, after the Idaho Statesman reported a state House ethics committee announced unanimous plans to expel him from office. 
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
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
Etymology
Middle English expellen, from Latin expellere, from ex- + pellere to drive — more at felt
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
expel
verb
ex·pel ik-ˈspel
expelled; expelling
1
: to force to leave
He was expelled from school.
2
: to force out
expel air from lungs
expelling
verb
1
as in ejecting
to drive or force out animal lover though I am, I was determined to expel the uninvited mouse from my room Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- ejecting
- banishing
- dismissing
- chasing
- evicting
- outing
- removing
- sacking
- ousting
- extruding
- firing
- routing
- casting out
- kicking out
- exiling
- bouncing
- dispossessing
- running off
- ostracizing
- deporting
- displacing
- turning out
- throwing out
- terminating
- discharging
- expatriating
- sending packing
- giving one the gate
- drumming (out)
- booting (out)
- releasing
- turfing (out)
- shutting out
- reading out
- retiring
- deforcing
- axing
- defenestrating
- canning
- cashiering
- mustering out
- pink-slipping
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- receiving
- accepting
- taking
- admitting
- welcoming
- taking in
- sheltering
- harboring
- entertaining
- lodging
- housing
2
as in radiating
to throw or give off something in a wastebasket was expelling a foul odor Synonyms & Similar Words
- radiating
- casting
- emitting
- releasing
- emanating
- issuing
- eliminating
- exhaling
- discharging
- evolving
- shooting
- pouring
- irradiating
- venting
- evacuating
- excreting
- secreting
- ejecting
- giving out
- expiring
- throwing out
- exuding
- spraying
- erupting
- oozing
- sending (out)
- squirting
- spurting
- spewing
- gushing
- jetting
- outpouring
- spouting
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- absorbing
- inhaling
- taking up
- sucking (up)
- soaking (up)
- sponging
3
as in spitting
to violently throw out or off (something from within) ringing and flashing madly, the slot machine expelled a bucketful of quarters Synonyms & Similar Words
- ejecting
- spitting
- erupting
- emitting
- disgorging
- belching
- firing
- pouring
- spewing
- spurting
- releasing
- hurling
- spouting
- exhaling
- jetting
- issuing
- eructing
- surging
- emanating
- squirting
- tossing
- streaming
- heaving
- flinging
- springing
- discharging
- gushing
- venting
- launching
- shooting
- casting
- pitching
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- containing
- restraining
- shutting (in or up)
- bottling (up)
4
as in exhaling
to let or force out of the lungs asked the patient to expel a deep breath Synonyms & Similar Words
- exhaling
- expectorating
- expiring
- blowing (out)
- breathing (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- inhaling
- inspiring
- inbreathing
- lord admiral
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