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 The Northern Kentucky congressman recently spearheaded an attempt to oust U.S House Speaker Mike Johnson from his leadership position, though after several rounds of voting, Massie was the lone Republican who voted against giving Johnson the gavel. Hannah Pinski, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025 Public discontent In June, the Netanyahu coalition government narrowly survived a no-confidence vote that would have dissolved parliament and effectively ousted him from the premiership. Chad De Guzman, Time, 26 June 2025 Brad Pitt stars as Sonny Hayes, a once-promising driver who is recruited to help his friend and former driver, Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem), who is in danger of being ousted by the board of his racing team. Maureen Lee Lenker Published, EW.com, 26 June 2025 President Obama launched an eight-month-long bombing campaign in Libya to oust Gadhafi. Nbc News, NBC news, 25 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for oust
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oust
Verb
  • Cunningham, Sheldon and Sun guard Lindsay Allen were ejected from the game with about 40 seconds left before the Fever took home the victory.
    Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 13 July 2025
  • The screw-on lids can forcefully eject upon opening if food, carbonated beverages or perishable drinks like juice or milk have been stored in the bottle over time.
    Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 12 July 2025
Verb
  • He was signed aged 29 in 2022 on a free transfer, usurped Vicente Guaita to become first choice and then, after being deposed by Henderson, was sold to Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2024 for £10million ($13.5m).
    Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 9 July 2025
  • None of those who were deposed was mentioned by name at the hearing.
    Paul Egan, Freep.com, 3 July 2025
Verb
  • Jessie was evicted in a blindside, flipping the season’s power dynamic and cementing Jeff’s place as a fan favorite.
    Dalton Ross, EW.com, 5 July 2025
  • After his family was evicted from their home in Hawaii, Johnson was sent to live with his father in Nashville.
    Diana Leyva, The Tennessean, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • Media outlets subsequently outed him as gay, which led to mental health difficulties and harassment of Sipple's family.
    Domenica Bongiovanni, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
  • Bezos and de Becker's claims came in response to a story by The National Enquirer that shared personal text messages between Sánchez and Bezos, outing their relationship.
    Alexia Fernández, People.com, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • Planting them in groups or among other plants helps keep them upright, but tall varieties often topple over onto their neighbors as the season progresses.
    Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 July 2025
  • The Islamic Republic grew even weaker in December, when rebels toppled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, another faithful Iranian ally.
    MOHAMMAD AYATOLLAHI TABAAR, Foreign Affairs, 8 July 2025
Verb
  • Alabama last year became the first state to carry out an execution with nitrogen gas, a method that involves pumping nitrogen through a face mask and depriving the inmate of oxygen.
    Kim Chandler, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2025
  • Permitting their unlawful removal would thwart that purpose and deprive the public of the commission's full expertise and oversight.
    Melissa Quinn July 2, CBS News, 2 July 2025
Verb
  • Vera, the daughter of a Russian father and Korean mother, may be banished to second-class citizenry.
    Mark Athitakis, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2025
  • During those frenzied years in the 1960s and 1970s, authorities banished Xi from the capital and subjected him to solitary confinement and physical abuse.
    JOSEPH TORIGIAN, Foreign Affairs, 23 June 2025
Verb
  • Ken Paxton, a stalwart supporter of President Trump, is running in the 2026 GOP primary to unseat incumbent veteran Republican Sen. John Cornyn, who is considered more of an establishment conservative.
    Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 10 July 2025
  • But a tilt may not be enough in a midterm election to unseat him—Georgia is not Alabama.
    Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Oust.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oust. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.

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