castaway 1 of 2

Definition of castawaynext
as in reject
one who is cast out or rejected by society one theory is that Easter Island was first settled by castaways from Polynesia

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

castaway

2 of 2

adjective

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 castaway
Noun
Supporters of the theory believe that Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan became stranded on the remote island after failing to reach Howland Island — possibly dying as castaways. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2026 But the Hurricanes turned speedy castaways like Ehlers, Miller, Taylor Hall and Eric Robinson into Cup champions. — Murat Ates, New York Times, 17 June 2026
Adjective
Chartering a speedboat, we were whisked into the bay, a spellbinding expanse of calm, amniotic water dotted with more than 50 tiny islands and pristine beaches that called to mind castaway fantasies. — David Amsden, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025 Colts head coach Shane Steichen has found something in castaway quarterback Daniel Jones. — Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 28 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for castaway
Recent Examples of Synonyms for castaway
Noun
  • All three are crime drama-thrillers, the most exportable and ordered of program types, but all three reject tropes of the genre.
    — John Hopewell, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Pollock's rejects were the source material for Bald Eagle, according to Kumar.
    — Anastasia Tsioulcas, NPR, 10 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • The steady trickle of those recordings into the groundwater of influence has guaranteed the album its afterlife, both as a great lost future of American music and as a central pillar in the group’s legacy.
    — Ryan Meehan, Pitchfork, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Walczak’s estimates assume local governments raise tax rates enough to fully replace the lost revenue, based on state property records for every parcel in Florida.
    — Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Lee’s films have often zeroed in on misfits and outcasts, cut off from society’s embrace.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026
  • An orphan and an outcast, Colman’s fisherwoman wasn’t raised to fit in.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • The program has been under consideration for some time, Fujitsu says, and its aim is not to pin down what women bring to animation that was previously absent.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Most notably, Gershman has been absent, having fought to be able to hold an instrument or pick up his son again after a debilitating battle with long COVID and resulting autoimmune disease.
    — Leena Tailor, SPIN, 23 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Their limited budgets also have required both to identify which castoffs elsewhere could become valuable contributors.
    — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Filled with castoffs from other teams and cheap internal options having the best few weeks of their careers at the perfect time.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • But a bartender’s lament about the overwhelming crowd mid-afternoon at The Tap felt a little, well, misplaced.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Our children are paying the price for failed leadership and misplaced priorities.
    — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The best part of the movie is Murray Bartlett’s wise leper, a man who for the vast majority of his screen time is covered head to toe.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 26 June 2026
  • Robin also strikes up a friendship with a soulful, philosophical leper (Murray Bartlett, covered in wrappings from head to toe), who somehow recognizes his good qualities.
    — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 11 June 2026
Adjective
  • So still searching for a first win, while also moving on to, seemingly, soul searching for a critical missing element.
    — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026
  • But the whereabouts of the missing Del Paso Boulevard landmark remain unknown, police officials said Thursday at department headquarters.
    — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Castaway.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/castaway. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster