1
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.
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of exile
Jennifer Jett, NBC news, 2 July 2025
Until then, death and distance blurred together, letters had stopped but the anticipation of returning and seeing my grandmother again, even as a ghost—that sweet suspension of disbelief that exile allows—must have sustained her.
—Jhumpa Lahiri, New Yorker, 30 June 2025
Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 26 June 2025
To be clear, the Rani (played by Archie Panjabi and Anita Dobson) did take their big swing, thinning reality enough to allow access to Omega the original Time Lord, who’d been exiled to the Underverse.
—Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 31 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for exile
Noun
According to the Central Tibetan Administration, there are about 130,000 Tibetan exiles around the world, mostly in India and Nepal.
—Jennifer Jett, NBC news, 2 July 2025
Until then, death and distance blurred together, letters had stopped but the anticipation of returning and seeing my grandmother again, even as a ghost—that sweet suspension of disbelief that exile allows—must have sustained her.
—Jhumpa Lahiri, New Yorker, 30 June 2025
Verb
Roundy was part of the FLDS church but was exiled in 2020.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 26 June 2025
To be clear, the Rani (played by Archie Panjabi and Anita Dobson) did take their big swing, thinning reality enough to allow access to Omega the original Time Lord, who’d been exiled to the Underverse.
—Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 31 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for exile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exile
Noun
-
While many viewers called for his expulsion online, he was dumped from the show in an act of typical game play on day 27.—
Daysia Tolentino,
EW.com,
8 July 2025
-
The students were released into the custody of their parents and suspended, pending expulsion.—
Mirna Alsharif,
NBC news,
27 June 2025
Noun
-
In Gaza, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Mozambique, in the blink of an eye, midwives, shrinks, programs for survivors and essential services in refugee camps were gone.—
Isabelle Mayault,
The Dial,
8 July 2025
-
In March, the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy announced the cancellation of a $230,000 contract for refugee resettlement, placing critical programs in jeopardy.—
Lila Hempel-Edgers
July 8,
Charlotte Observer,
8 July 2025
Verb
-
Vera, the daughter of a Russian father and Korean mother, may be banished to second-class citizenry.—
Mark Athitakis,
Los Angeles Times,
3 July 2025
-
During those frenzied years in the 1960s and 1970s, authorities banished Xi from the capital and subjected him to solitary confinement and physical abuse.—
JOSEPH TORIGIAN,
Foreign Affairs,
23 June 2025
Noun
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The administration has also placed international students under scrutiny, threatening visa revocations and deportations for those participating in campus protests deemed hostile to government interests.—
Matt Motta,
Scientific American,
10 July 2025
-
Polls released last month from Economist/YouGov and NPR/PBS News/Marist found that while a plurality of Americans still support Trump’s overall approach to immigration, a majority believes that ICE has gone too far in its deportation efforts.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 July 2025
Verb
-
For example: The strike on Iran demonstrated America’s unique global military reach and its ability, together with Israel, to reshape the Middle East while relegating Russia and China — nominally Iran’s allies — to the sidelines.—
Hal Brands,
Twin Cities,
13 July 2025
-
Why were the ordinary women so prominent, the holy scene relegated to the background?—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
11 July 2025
Verb
-
Located beneath Île de la Cité, this stark, minimalist crypt honors the 200,000 French victims deported to Nazi camps.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
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Lawyers for the plaintiffs argued that efforts to detain and deport noncitizens based on their political beliefs violate the First Amendment’s right to free speech, the Washington Post reported.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
8 July 2025
Verb
-
The deputies gave the man first aid and he was transported to an area hospital where he was listed in critical condition.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 July 2025
-
The body was transported to the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office.—
Erin Clack,
People.com,
5 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Exile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exile. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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