oust

verb

ˈau̇st 

ousted; ousting; ousts

transitive verb

1

a

: to remove from or dispossess of property or position by legal action, by force, or by the compulsion of necessity

The rebels ousted the dictator from power.

b

: to take away (something, such as a right or authority) : bar, remove

The states do not like attempts by Congress to oust their jurisdiction.

2

: to take the place of : supplant

must be careful that quantity does not oust quality

—R. V. Williams

Synonyms

• banish
• boot (out)
• bounce
• cast out
• chase
• dismiss
• drum (out)
• eject
• expel
• extrude
• kick out
• out
• rout
• run off
• throw out
• turf (out) [chiefly British]
• turn out

Choose the Right Synonym for oust

eject, expel, oust, evict mean to drive or force out.

eject carries an especially strong implication of throwing or thrusting out from within as a physical action.

ejected an obnoxious patron from the bar

expel stresses a thrusting out or driving away especially permanently which need not be physical.

a student expelled from college

oust implies removal or dispossession by power of the law or by force or compulsion.

police ousted the squatters

evict chiefly applies to turning out of house and home.

evicted for nonpayment of rent

Examples of oust in a Sentence

The rebels ousted the dictator from power.

Large national banks are ousting local banks in many communities.

Recent Examples on the Web

For the last week, his family has gathered in Washington to push for his release now that President Bashar Assad has been ousted. —Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024

By Peter Weber, The Week US published 11 December 2024 What happened The rebel forces that ousted Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad on Sunday announced an interim government Tuesday. —Peter Weber, theweek, 11 Dec. 2024

Marine Le Pen: France fell into political chaos in early December following a no-confidence vote that ousted Prime Minister Michel Barnier three months into his term. —Maggie McGrath, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024

Galliano is 64, and has made amends with executives at LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, including Sidney Toledano, who was CEO at Dior when the designer was ousted, but is not seen returning immediately to any of its brands. —Miles Socha, WWD, 11 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French oster, ouster to take off, remove, oust, from Late Latin obstare to ward off, from Latin, to stand in the way, from ob- in the way + stare to stand — more at ob-, stand

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

oust

verb

ˈau̇st 

: to force or drive out (as from office or from possession of something)