BANISH Synonyms: 66 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'banish' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of banish are deport , exile , and transport . While all these words mean "to remove by authority from a state or country," banish implies compulsory removal from a country not necessarily one's own. // banished for seditious activities

Q: When is it sensible to use 'deport' instead of 'banish'?

The synonyms deport and banish are sometimes interchangeable, but deport implies sending out of the country an alien who has illegally entered or whose presence is judged inimical to the public welfare. // illegal aliens will be deported

Q: When would 'exile' be a good substitute for 'banish'?

Although the words exile and banish have much in common, exile may imply compulsory removal or an enforced or voluntary absence from one's own country. // a writer who exiled himself for political reasons

Q: In what contexts can 'transport' take the place of 'banish'?

In some situations, the words transport and banish are roughly equivalent. However, transport implies sending a convicted criminal to an overseas penal colony. // a convict who was transported to Australia

banish

verb

ˈba-nish

Definition of banish next

as in to exile

to force to leave a country in the old days, criminals were sometimes banished to distant lands

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to out

to drive or force out permanently banished the troublemakers from the youth recreational center

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb banish contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of banish are deport, exile, and transport. While all these words mean "to remove by authority from a state or country," banish implies compulsory removal from a country not necessarily one's own.

banished for seditious activities

When is it sensible to use deport instead of banish?

The synonyms deport and banish are sometimes interchangeable, but deport implies sending out of the country an alien who has illegally entered or whose presence is judged inimical to the public welfare.

illegal aliens will be deported

When would exile be a good substitute for banish?

Although the words exile and banish have much in common, exile may imply compulsory removal or an enforced or voluntary absence from one's own country.

a writer who exiled himself for political reasons

In what contexts can transport take the place of banish?

In some situations, the words transport and banish are roughly equivalent. However, transport implies sending a convicted criminal to an overseas penal colony.

a convict who was transported to Australia

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of banish If border guards fail to stop them, the guards are banished to the ocean as punishment. —

Russell Contreras, Axios, 12 Dec. 2024 The turbos were banished and the cylinder count grew by 50 percent, as Ferrari’s range-topper gained a V-12 for the first time. —

Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 11 Dec. 2024 More:Graphics track changes, uncertainty in Syria after rebels banish Bashar al-Assad Israeli media reported the air force had carried out as many as 250 strikes. —

Maya Gebeily, USA TODAY, 10 Dec. 2024 The ritual, performed by a Balinese priest, cleanses both body and soul, banishes evil spirits, and brings good fortune. —

Ryan Smith, Travel + Leisure, 17 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for banish

Recent Examples of Synonyms for banish

Verb

In Act 4, Prospero, the former Duke of Milan who has been exiled to a desert island with daughter Miranda, and his magic book, interrupts his revenge scheme to conjure a supernatural theatrical pageant in honor of the engagement of Miranda and Ferdinand, the son of the king of Naples.

Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2025
As a result, its people have been imprisoned, exiled, and murdered.

Keith Gessen, The New Yorker, 10 Jan. 2025