EXCOMMUNICATE Synonyms: 30 Similar and Opposite Words

excommunicate

verb

Definition of excommunicate

as in to banish

to not allow (someone) to continue being a member of a group and especially the Roman Catholic church He was excommunicated from the church for his radical practices.

Related Words

Relevance

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 excommunicate King John opposed his choice, prompting Innocent to excommunicate the king and place England under interdict, meaning the English could not participate in church sacraments. — Joëlle Rollo-Koster, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2026 In the consecration rite, Bishop Alfonso de Galarreta, who was excommunicated after being consecrated without papal consent in 1988, placed his hands on the head of each of the four new bishops. — Jamey Keaten, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026 The Vatican responded by excommunicating Lefebvre and the newly ordained bishops, though those excommunications were lifted in 2009 as part of an effort to restore relations. — Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2026 The fraternity's national parent organization also excommunicated the chapter. — Lucia Cheng, Des Moines Register, 20 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for excommunicate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for excommunicate

Verb

Catlett was banished from the United States for what her art had to say.

— Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
But being intellectually skeptical of something is not the same as banishing it from one’s existence.

— Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 29 June 2026

Definition of banish

Verb

The reality star, actress, and comedian hasn't been exiled from late night altogether, however.

— Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 1 July 2026
The producers essentially did as much once both were exiled from Casa Amor, and the two made the mutual decision to couple up onscreen.

— Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 1 July 2026

Definition of exile

Verb

Part of the Department of Education's initial policy, which has now been reversed, was excluding nursing programs from the professional definitions.

— Madeline Luebkert, CBS News, 1 July 2026
The housing bill, formally called the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, can still become law if Trump neither signs it nor vetoes it in 10 days, excluding Sundays.

— Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 30 June 2026

Definition of exclude

Verb

Charles scored in the semi-final against Middlesbrough before Tonda Eckert’s side was expelled from contention by the English Football League for attempting to spy on their opponents.

— Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 2 July 2026
Any college student who supports the organizations will be immediately expelled.

— Romy Ellenbogen Herald, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026

Definition of expel

Verb

Their rivals were a candid, impudent pair, the schoolgirlish Shakira and a throaty American bottle-service girl named Toni, both incapable of conniving their way into romance, prone to heartbreak, and swiftly ostracized for their overt judgment of other islanders.

— Lillian Fishman, New Yorker, 27 June 2026
Pride Nights and radical members of the LGBTQ community, including Giants broadcaster Mike Krukow, have shamed, and even ostracized millions of fans and many players who don’t align with their ideology.

— Jon Root OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 June 2026

Definition of ostracize

Verb

Although Cavalli remained in the game, Contreras, Miles Mikolas, Nate Eaton, and Boston interim manager Chad Tracy were ejected.

— Jon Root OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
Thirteen players, including four Australians, are ejected for their part in the brawl.

— Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026

Definition of eject

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

Browse Nearby Words

excogitating

excommunicate

excommunicated

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

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

Copy Citation

Synonyms of excommunicate

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on excommunicate

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

perfunctory

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes