freeze out

verb

froze out; frozen out; freezing out; freezes out
Synonyms of freeze outnext

transitive verb

: exclude
freeze-out
ˈfrēz-ˌau̇t How to pronounce freeze out (audio)
noun

Synonyms of freeze out

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Examples of freeze out in a Sentence

a housing market that effectively freezes out people of moderate means
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
In a report this month that sharply criticized data center giants including Amazon, Google, Meta and Microsoft, several Senate Democrats said companies have used nondisclosure agreements to freeze out the public. — Marc Levy, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026 In a report this month that sharply criticized data center giants including Amazon, Google, Meta and Microsoft, several Senate Democrats said companies have used non-disclosure agreements to freeze out the public. — Marc Levy, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026 Wayne State University psychology professor Hannah Schacter says changes during adolescence make teenagers unusually sensitive to acceptance and rejection, which is why being frozen out of a group chat can register as a real loss. — Ashley Lynch, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2026 The issue of access to the White House grounds is separate, yet related, to the issue of whether the administration can also freeze out members of the pool because the president does not approve of their editorial decisions. — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for freeze out

Word History

First Known Use

1861, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of freeze out was in 1861

Rhymes for freeze out

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Browse Nearby Words

freezemeter
freeze out
freeze over
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Cite this Entry

“Freeze out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/freeze%20out. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Legal Definition

freezeout

1 of 2 noun
freeze·​out
ˈfrēz-ˌau̇t
: a corporate action (as a merger) taken by those in control of the corporation (as controlling shareholders or the board of directors) for the purpose of causing the minority shareholders to lose their equity in the corporation (as by the sale of their shares) compare squeezeout

freeze out

2 of 2 transitive verb
: to subject to a freezeout
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