EXILE Synonyms: 69 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of exile are banish , deport , and transport . While all these words mean "to remove by authority from a state or country," 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: When would 'banish' be a good substitute for 'exile'?

The synonyms banish and exile are sometimes interchangeable, but banish implies compulsory removal from a country not necessarily one's own. // banished for seditious activities

Q: When is 'deport' a more appropriate choice than 'exile'?

Although the words deport and exile have much in common, 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 might 'transport' be a better fit than 'exile'?

The words transport and exile can be used in similar contexts, but transport implies sending a convicted criminal to an overseas penal colony. // a convict who was transported to Australia

exile 1 of 2

noun

ˈeg-ˌzī(-ə)l

Definition of exile next

as in expulsion

the forced removal from a homeland the exile of French settlers from Nova Scotia resulted in the birth of the Cajun community in the U.S.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in refugee

a person forced to emigrate for political reasons after being overthrown in a coup, the dictator spent the remainder of his life as an exile in a string of less-than-welcoming countries

Synonyms & Similar Words

exile

2 of 2

verb

as in to banish

to force to leave a country with their conquest of the Moors complete, Ferdinand and Isabella next exiled the Jews from Spain

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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How does the verb exile contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of exile are banish, deport, and transport. While all these words mean "to remove by authority from a state or country," exile may imply compulsory removal or an enforced or voluntary absence from one's own country.

a writer who exiled himself for political reasons

When would banish be a good substitute for exile?

The synonyms banish and exile are sometimes interchangeable, but banish implies compulsory removal from a country not necessarily one's own.

banished for seditious activities

When is deport a more appropriate choice than exile?

Although the words deport and exile have much in common, 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 might transport be a better fit than exile?

The words transport and exile can be used in similar contexts, but 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 exile

Noun

Being in exile is also a way to distance yourself from anyone who might try to refute your version of events. —

Hunter Ingram, Variety, 3 Dec. 2024 But the two defendants were able to depend on something that the prosecutors did not fully comprehend: the ability of Willy and Sal to manipulate a sense of loyalty within South Florida’s Cuban exile community. —

T.j. English, People.com, 30 Nov. 2024

Verb

The god was thought to have been tricked into giving up his kingdom, and exiled to the underworld. —

Scott Travers, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2024 In the wake of the Mahsa Amini demonstrations, both actors — like their director, exiled in Europe — decided to no longer take part in projects that required them to wear Iran’s compulsory hijab. —

Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for exile

Recent Examples of Synonyms for exile

Noun

Similar expulsions have occurred in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, driven by anti-French sentiment and criticism of France's counterterrorism efforts.

Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
Participants at the meeting reportedly discussed how to possibly introduce legislative measures to enable the mass expulsion of immigrants from Germany, as well as German citizens with immigrant roots and German citizens who have helped refugees.

Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 10 Dec. 2024