V2 Vocabulary Building Dictionary
ostracize
verb
Definition: 1. to exclude or shun someone from a group; 2. to banish someone from a group
Synonyms: banish, avoid, shun, exclude, reject, eject, expel
Antonyms: welcome, invite, embrace
Tips: Ostracize is derived from the Greek ostrakon, which means "tile or shell." Citizens would write (on tiles) the names of those who should be banished from the city. Whoever received the most ballots was ostracized--banned from the city. You can also think of an ostrich who sticks his head in the sand and hides, or excludes himself, from the world, at least for some time.
Usage Examples:
After he started the rumor about the company, he was ostracized by his coworkers. (shunned)
After he made a racist remark, he was ostracized from the party. (expelled)
Children can be very competitive and often ostracize their school mates in an effort to gain more popularity for themselves. (shun, reject)
The girl was afraid that she would be ostracized by her group of friends if she didn't dress and style her hair like everyone else. (avoided, shunned, rejected)
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