oust
verb
ˈau̇st 
ousted; ousting; ousts
transitive verb
1
a
: to remove from or dispossess of property or position by legal action, by force, or by the compulsion of necessity
The rebels ousted the dictator from power.
b
: to take away (something, such as a right or authority) : bar, remove
The states do not like attempts by Congress to oust their jurisdiction.
2
: to take the place of : supplant
must be careful that quantity does not oust quality
R. V. Williams
R. V. Williams
Synonyms
- banish
- boot (out)
- bounce
- cast out
- chase
- dismiss
- drum (out)
- eject
- expel
- extrude
- kick out
- out
- rout
- run off
- throw out
- turf (out) [chiefly British]
- turn out
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The rebels ousted the dictator from power. Large national banks are ousting local banks in many communities.
Recent Examples on the Web Opponents are collecting signatures for a recall effort that would oust him from office if successful. Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 13 June 2022 It was called by rebel lawmakers from his ruling conservative party who wanted to oust him as leader. Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 7 June 2022 The dramatic episode was the latest in an escalating dispute between Mr. Khan and parliament, after defectors within his own party and a minor coalition partner joined the opposition and attempted to oust him from power. Jonathan Landay And Gibran Naiyyar Peshimam, The Christian Science Monitor, 4 Apr. 2022 That prompted a backlash from other Republican leaders, who swiftly moved to oust her and install Ms. Stefanik in her place. New York Times, 27 Mar. 2022 Since his ouster, Khan has alleged — without providing evidence — that Pakistan’s powerful military took part in a U.S. plot to oust him. Munir Ahmed, ajc, 25 Aug. 2022 Khan alleged without providing evidence that the Pakistani military took part in a U.S. plot to oust him. Munir Ahmed, USA TODAY, 23 Aug. 2022 Khan alleged without providing evidence that the Pakistani military took part in a US plot to oust him. Munir Ahmed, BostonGlobe.com, 22 Aug. 2022 Jenkins has faced scrutiny for presenting herself as a volunteer for the recall effort that booted Boudin from office, while accepting more than $100,000 in consulting fees from organizations linked to the campaign to oust him. Megan Cassidy, San Francisco Chronicle, 12 Aug. 2022 See More
Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 13 June 2022 It was called by rebel lawmakers from his ruling conservative party who wanted to oust him as leader. Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 7 June 2022 The dramatic episode was the latest in an escalating dispute between Mr. Khan and parliament, after defectors within his own party and a minor coalition partner joined the opposition and attempted to oust him from power. Jonathan Landay And Gibran Naiyyar Peshimam, The Christian Science Monitor, 4 Apr. 2022 That prompted a backlash from other Republican leaders, who swiftly moved to oust her and install Ms. Stefanik in her place. New York Times, 27 Mar. 2022 Since his ouster, Khan has alleged — without providing evidence — that Pakistan’s powerful military took part in a U.S. plot to oust him. Munir Ahmed, ajc, 25 Aug. 2022 Khan alleged without providing evidence that the Pakistani military took part in a U.S. plot to oust him. Munir Ahmed, USA TODAY, 23 Aug. 2022 Khan alleged without providing evidence that the Pakistani military took part in a US plot to oust him. Munir Ahmed, BostonGlobe.com, 22 Aug. 2022 Jenkins has faced scrutiny for presenting herself as a volunteer for the recall effort that booted Boudin from office, while accepting more than $100,000 in consulting fees from organizations linked to the campaign to oust him. Megan Cassidy, San Francisco Chronicle, 12 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Anglo-French oster, ouster to take off, remove, oust, from Late Latin obstare to ward off, from Latin, to stand in the way, from ob- in the way + stare to stand — more at ob-, stand
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Kids Definition
oust
verb
ˈau̇st
ousted; ousting
: to force or drive out (as from office or from possession of something)
ousts
verb
1
as in banishes
to drive or force out she was ousted from her job after it was proven she'd been pilfering company supplies Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- banishes
- dismisses
- ejects
- chases
- expels
- outs
- evicts
- removes
- routs
- extrudes
- sacks
- casts out
- kicks out
- bounces
- fires
- turns out
- runs off
- dispossesses
- ostracizes
- deports
- exiles
- throws out
- retires
- displaces
- gives one the gate
- turfs (out)
- sends packing
- terminates
- boots (out)
- drums (out)
- shuts out
- expatriates
- reads out
- discharges
- deforces
- axes
- releases
- cans
- defenestrates
- cashiers
- pink-slips
- musters out
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- receives
- takes
- accepts
- admits
- welcomes
- takes in
- harbors
- shelters
- entertains
- houses
- lodges
2
as in deposes
to remove from a position of prominence or power (as a throne) the people finally rose up and ousted the corrupt dictator Synonyms & Similar Words
- deposes
- topples
- dismisses
- dethrones
- unseats
- deprives
- sacks
- banishes
- displaces
- unmakes
- removes
- fires
- usurps
- uncrowns
- ejects
- defrocks
- retires
- supplants
- unthrones
- overthrows
- expels
- subverts
- routs
- cans
- chases
- extrudes
- cashiers
- discharges
- musters out
- casts out
- runs off
- bounces
- throws out
- boots (out)
- drums (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- appoints
- initiates
- elects
- crowns
- invests
- installs
- baptizes
- enthrones
- inaugurates
- designates
- inducts
- instates
- thrones
3
as in evicts
to end the occupancy or possession of the squatters were forcibly ousted from the abandoned building Synonyms & Similar Words
- evicts
- deprives
- dispossesses
- divests
- expropriates
- strips
- usurps
- disinherits
- bereaves
- deforces
- appropriates
- commandeers
- impounds
- annexes
- disfurnishes
- seizes
- takes over