persona non grata
noun
per·so·na non gra·ta
pər-ˈsō-nə-ˌnän-ˈgra-tə 
-ˈgrä-
-ˈgrä-
plural personae non gratae
pər-ˈsō-(ˌ)nē-ˌnän-ˈgra-(ˌ)tē
-ˈgrä-,
-ˌnī-,
-ˌtī
: a person who is unacceptable or unwelcome
Luis Villoro is hardly a persona non grata. As he approaches the age of eighty, his position in the intelligentsia is secure.—
Scott Sherman
—typically used without a or theScott Sherman… English scientist James Lovelock, co-author of the Gaia hypothesis and once an environmental demigod. Lovelock has become persona non grata by saying that the ecosphere is so resilient no amount of human malfeasance, including nuclear war, could end life.—Gregg Easterbrook
Gregg Easterbrook"We'd been very good friends for millions of years and I thought it was a bit much for them suddenly to be personae non gratae and out of my life."—Paul McCartney
Paul McCartneyExamples of persona non grata in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Rasool was declared persona non grata by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a post on X on March 14.
—arkansasonline.com, 24 Mar. 2025
The woman who brings the funk to the home is June, who has become something of a persona non grata in the community, a resident believed to snatch up the ground-round, top-choice meat and keep it for herself.
—David John Chávez, The Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2025
Bannon battles Musk The war between one of Trump’s original backers and one of his most recent converts is raging on, as former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon has vowed to make Musk persona non grata in the new administration.
—Brett Samuels, The Hill, 15 Jan. 2025
When his first term ended, Trump was persona non grata politically, and the Secret Service senior leadership team was focused on protecting then-President Biden.
—Jennifer Jacobs, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for persona non grata
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arkansasonline.com, 24 Mar. 2025
The woman who brings the funk to the home is June, who has become something of a persona non grata in the community, a resident believed to snatch up the ground-round, top-choice meat and keep it for herself.
—David John Chávez, The Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2025
Bannon battles Musk The war between one of Trump’s original backers and one of his most recent converts is raging on, as former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon has vowed to make Musk persona non grata in the new administration.
—Brett Samuels, The Hill, 15 Jan. 2025
When his first term ended, Trump was persona non grata politically, and the Secret Service senior leadership team was focused on protecting then-President Biden.
—Jennifer Jacobs, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for persona non grata
Cite this Entry
“Persona non grata.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/persona%20non%20grata. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
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