Definition of oustnext

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb oust contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of oust are eject, evict, and expel. While all these words mean "to drive or force out," oust implies removal or dispossession by power of the law or by force or compulsion.

police ousted the squatters

When would eject be a good substitute for oust?

The words eject and oust can be used in similar contexts, but eject carries an especially strong implication of throwing or thrusting out from within as a physical action.

ejected an obnoxious patron from the bar

In what contexts can evict take the place of oust?

The synonyms evict and oust are sometimes interchangeable, but evict chiefly applies to turning out of house and home.

evicted for nonpayment of rent

When might expel be a better fit than oust?

While the synonyms expel and oust are close in meaning, expel stresses a thrusting out or driving away especially permanently which need not be physical.

a student expelled from college

Example 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 oust In fact, off-year elections in 2025 and mid-term primaries this year have seen younger candidates oust older or longtime establishment figures. Jason Ma, Fortune, 9 Aug. 2026 Lawmakers sought to oust Cleaver last year by dividing Kansas City into three Republican-leaning districts in the new congressional map. Cuyler Dunn, Kansas City Star, 9 Aug. 2026 Democratic incumbents in safe districts in New York and Colorado have been ousted so far this year by primary challengers. Caroline Linton, CBS News, 9 Aug. 2026 Now make that two ex-Liberty fan favorite players within the calendar year abruptly ousted from the team — which is lauded for its player-first environment — without proper send-offs. Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for oust
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oust
Verb
  • Seattle manager Dan Wilson was ejected for the second time over the past four games.
    ABC News, ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026
  • The last game of her Liberty tenure was a July 12 loss to the Toronto Tempo, a matchup she got ejected for throwing a shoe at Marina Mabrey.
    Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • However, since Assad was deposed in December 2024 by the opposition, that argument appeared less credible than ever.
    Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • As an aside, the rush to depose Romo continues to gain steam even though one of the voices that carries the most weight around CBS has remained doggedly silent.
    Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 11 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Earlier this year, a location of Horn Barbecue in Lafayette was mysteriously evicted by the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office.
    John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Sooooo… Haley, Chuk and Kamu better find a way to poison Drew and Barrett against the icons and rally Taylor, La Trice, Mallory, Yash and, yes, even Melody to help target and evict the icons.
    Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Speaking of Sugar’s caseload, Season 2’s improvements are evident beyond the inevitable advantages of outing him as an alien.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2026
  • He was criticized for outing LGBTQ+ stars who hadn’t revealed their sexuality publicly, and for bullying others by mocking their misfortune.
    Shirley Halperin, Rolling Stone, 6 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Susquehanna Hose Fire Company In Columbia, in Howard County, a tree toppled onto a house.
    Adam Thompson, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The heat waves roiling Western Europe this summer toppled an average temperature record for the June-July period set in 2022, according to the European climate agency Copernicus.
    ABC News, ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • That means that the people are deprived not only of their capacity to act, but also of their capacity to think and to judge.
    David Denby, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The bipartisan legislation, which passed 86-11, would penalize countries that continue to buy Russian oil, gas and other exports seeking to deprive Putin of revenues fueling the war.
    Mary Clare Jalonick, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Rhaenyra also makes the drastic decision of relieving Mysaria of her duties as master of whispers and banishing her from King’s Landing.
    Justin Kroll, Deadline, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Sam Roberts, a longtime obituarist for the New York Times, wants to banish the euphemisms that attend death.
    Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Seven years after the defeat, Jones, who had relocated to Virginia, ran but lost in his bid to unseat incumbent Republican Eric Cantor for a seat to serve the 7th District of the state.
    Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Three additional primary candidates ran to unseat Case in the reliably Democratic district.
    Jay Stahl, USA Today, 9 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Oust.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oust. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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