blackball 1 of 2

verb

ˈblak-ˌbȯl How to pronounce blackball (audio)
Definition of blackballnext
as in to dismiss
to reject by or as if by a vote he was disappointed to learn that he had been blackballed by the fraternity

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

blackball

2 of 2

noun

1
as in veto

Related Words

Dissimilar Words
2
as in banishment

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 blackball
Verb
Amazon Studios has been sued by a post-production vendor who alleges he was blackballed after refusing to pay kickbacks to an Amazon employee. — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 14 May 2026 Even a popular New York City venue allegedly uses it to blackball people its millionaire owner considers adversaries. — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
For more than 20 years, apologists for Israel have sought to shame, blackball, and fire professors who criticize Israeli policy. — David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 May 2025 Among the keys to its success, labor groups said, is the Accord’s ability to blackball factories that refuse to remediate safety violations from selling goods to signatory brands. — Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019 See All Example Sentences for blackball
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blackball
  1. dismiss
  2. veto
  3. banishment
  4. kill
  5. con
  6. ostracism
  7. refuse
  8. refusal
Verb
  • In April, the Superior Court dismissed the three citations Hubbard received in May 2025 when no park ranger or city attorney appeared for the prosecution, his lawsuit states.
    — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
  • Freeney did not dismiss the business side of the arrangement.
    — Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of dismiss
Noun
  • Others became law without Kelly’s signature or were enacted over her veto by Republicans in the House and Senate.
    — Matthew Kelly July 1, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026
  • DeSantis’ vetoes carved roughly $800 million from the $115 billion state budget the Legislature passed in May, including 140 projects requested by Miami-Dade lawmakers that are worth nearly $88 million, according to a Miami Herald analysis.
    — Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026
Definition of veto
Noun
  • Sore from the torment of her family’s banishment, Espinoza feels the pulse of current events.
    — Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
  • The appeals court ruled in September 2025 that Mid Vermont Christian must be allowed to participate in state athletics, after two years of banishment had passed.
    — Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
Definition of banishment
Verb
  • Massive explosions lit up the night sky as ballistic missiles and drones hammered parts of the city, killing at least 14 people in the city and three others in the surrounding region, with dozens more wounded, city officials said.
    — Helen Regan, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • Alicent and Helaena will be held prisoner until Aemond is found and killed.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 July 2026
Definition of kill
Noun
  • What are the cons of investing in gold?
    — Liz Knueven, CNBC, 26 June 2026
  • Read this for details of how to download and read on for the pros and cons of installing the new software now.
    — David Phelan, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
Definition of con
Noun
  • Expect the backlash, posing risks of fandom ostracism for any significant animator seemingly endorsing AI, to play out at late June’s Annecy Festival.
    — John Hopewell, Variety, 1 June 2026
  • During the global debt crisis of the 1980s, the choice between debt servicing by means of an IMF program and ostracism from global markets was put on broad display.
    — Sven van Mourik, The Dial, 31 Mar. 2026
Definition of ostracism
Verb
  • Hamas’ statement made no mention of disarmament, one of the key requirements under the second phase of the ceasefire deal, which the group has so far refused.
    — Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • To conceal the theft from his investors, Correia refused to disclose his company’s financial records and gave false positive updates on SnoOwl’s status.
    — Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 6 July 2026
Definition of refuse
Noun
  • The Ducks have seven days to exercise their right of first refusal on the player, per the NHL collective bargaining agreement.
    — Dan Gelston, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
  • Republican hardliners jammed up the House floor this week, in part because of congressional leadership's refusal to attach a version of the election bill, dubbed the SAVE America Act, to the National Defense Authorization Act.
    — Dan Mangan,Luke Fountain,Kevin Breuninger,Garrett Downs,Ashley Capoot,Justin Papp, CNBC, 2 July 2026
Definition of refusal

Browse Nearby Words

black-a-vised
blackball
blackballed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Blackball.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blackball. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of blackball for Spanish Speakers

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