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 It’s joined by AHA, BHA, and PHA to chemically exfoliate skin and banish body acne. —

Devon Abelman, Allure, 6 Nov. 2024 The pet camera shows Dotty first sitting on her cot, with her head plopped down in disbelief that she'd been banished. —

Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024 The rapper, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, was sentenced to time served and probation, and banished from metro Atlanta for 10 years. —

Kristal Dixon, Axios, 3 Dec. 2024 Purple shampoos may be a blonde’s best friend, but washing hair with the best blue shampoo can help brunettes banish brassiness and achieve a cool, even hue. —

Jenny Berg, Allure, 20 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for banish

Recent Examples of Synonyms for banish

Verb

Ortega's Rule Under Scrutiny Nicaragua's government has intensified its crackdown on dissent, imprisoning opposition figures, exiling journalists and shuttering over 5,000 organizations since 2018.

Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
After founding the adult DVD empire Girls Gone Wild and cementing the brand into the 2000s pop-culture zeitgeist, creator Joe Francis has been exiled to Mexico amidst a slew of legal battles and has largely remained out of the spotlight.

Krystie Lee Yandoli, Rolling Stone, 3 Dec. 2024