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GRE vocabulary

ostracism

nounHigh-frequency wordMore O words

exclusion from a group or society by general consent as a form of punishment

Word origin: From Greek ostrakon, a potsherd used as a ballot for banishment.

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In a sentence

Ostracism in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing ostracism in a sentence.

She faced social ostracism after testifying against her colleagues.

Whistleblowers in the firm often faced quiet ostracism, excluded from meetings and frozen out of promotions.

Synonyms
exclusionbanishmentexile
Antonyms
inclusionacceptancewelcome

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Verbal · Text Completion

Critics initially dismissed the composer's late works as merely blank, but later scholars recognized in them a deliberate restraint that concealed considerable technical sophistication.

Select the word that best completes the sentence.

Usage & nuance

Using “ostracism” well

Ostracism is exclusion from a group by general consent, used as a form of social punishment. The term comes from an ancient Athenian practice of banishing citizens by vote.

Common questions

Questions about “ostracism”

Ostracism (noun) means exclusion from a group or society by general consent as a form of punishment
Here is ostracism used in an example sentence: "She faced social ostracism after testifying against her colleagues." Another example: "Whistleblowers in the firm often faced quiet ostracism, excluded from meetings and frozen out of promotions."
Common synonyms for ostracism include exclusion, banishment, exile.
Antonyms of ostracism include inclusion, acceptance, welcome.
Ostracism clusters with exclusion, banishment, and exile. Its antonyms inclusion, acceptance, and welcome mark the contrasting answer.
Yes. Ostracism is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

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