What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
exorcised
Example
The priest exorcised the demon from the possessed girl. [exorcised: verb]
Example
She felt like she needed to exorcise the bad memories from her mind. [exorcise: verb]
oust
Example
The shareholders voted to oust the CEO due to poor performance. [oust: verb]
Example
The new management team ousted the old one and took over the company. [ousted: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Oust is more commonly used than exorcise in everyday language, especially in political or business contexts. Exorcise is less common and has a more specific religious or spiritual connotation.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between exorcised and oust?
Both exorcise and oust are formal words, but oust is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, while exorcise is typically associated with religious or spiritual contexts and may be considered more formal or specialized.