Synonyms of banish

banish

verb

ˈba-nish 

1

as in to exile

to force to leave a country

in the old days, criminals were sometimes banished to distant lands

Synonyms & Similar Words

• exile
• relegate
• deport
• evict
• transport
• eliminate
• displace
• expel
• dismiss
• exclude
• expatriate
• eject
• run out
• cast out
• oust
• spurn
• kick out
• ostracize
• excommunicate
• reject
• repudiate
• expulse
• dispossess
• throw out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• receive
• accept
• admit
• repatriate
• naturalize
• take in
• entertain
• shelter
• harbor
• house

2

as in to out

to drive or force out

permanently banished the troublemakers from the youth recreational center

Synonyms & Similar Words

• out
• dismiss
• eject
• chase
• expel
• evict
• remove
• oust
• cast out
• kick out
• extrude
• drum (out)
• sack
• run off
• rout
• boot (out)
• turf (out)
• throw out
• turn out
• bounce
• ostracize
• exile
• send packing
• fire
• dispossess
• give one the gate
• shut out
• deport
• displace
• read out
• can
• terminate
• axe
• expatriate
• deforce
• pink-slip
• retire
• ax
• muster out
• defenestrate
• discharge
• release
• cashier

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• receive
• accept
• take
• admit
• take in
• welcome
• entertain
• shelter
• house
• harbor
• lodge

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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of banish

Dylan immediately grew suspicious of Britney, since Danielle was so angry at her when she was banished. —Emily Longeretta, Variety, 7 Mar. 2025

Advertisement Haynes ended up being the only one to flip-flop and was the deciding vote in banishing Reyes, leaving Haynes as the only remaining traitor in the game. —Megan McCluskey, TIME, 6 Mar. 2025

Despite continuing to deny the allegations, Rose agreed to be banished to MLB’s ineligible list. —Glenn Garner, Deadline, 1 Mar. 2025

Though the episodes ended before Britney revealed her vote, fans are convinced that Britney votes for Danielle and banishes her based on how the episode was edited. —Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 28 Feb. 2025