What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
ostracized
Example
After the scandal, he was ostracized by his colleagues. [ostracized: verb]
Example
She felt ostracized by her classmates because of her different cultural background. [ostracized: adjective]
banish
Example
The king banished the traitor from the kingdom. [banished: verb]
Example
He was banished to a remote island for his crimes. [banished: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Ostracized is more commonly used in everyday language than banish. Ostracized is often used to describe social situations, while banish is more commonly used in legal or political contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between ostracized and banish?
Banish is generally considered more formal than ostracized. It is often used in legal or official contexts, while ostracized is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.