Ostracize vs. Pariah — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Ostracize and Pariah
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Compare with Definitions
Ostracize
Exclude from a society or group
She was declared a witch and ostracized by the villagers
Pariah
A social outcast
"Shortly Tom came upon the juvenile pariah of the village, Huckleberry Finn, son of the town drunkard" (Mark Twain).
Ostracize
(in ancient Greece) banish (an unpopular or overly powerful citizen) from a city for five or ten years by popular vote
Themistocles was indeed out of favour at Athens by the end of the 470s, when he was ostracized
Pariah
A Dalit.
Ostracize
To exclude from a group or society
"Lepers wrapped in bandages—ostracized from their villages and unable to obtain work—rushed up to passing cars, waving crude handmade flags to warn of potholes, in the hope that motorists would fling loose change at them before they got too close" (John Ghazvinian). "Lionesses with worn and missing teeth are not ostracized from their pride, but live out their old age ... supported by the hunting of younger females" (Cindy Engel).
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Pariah
Synonym of outcast: A person despised and excluded by their family, community, or society, especially a member of the untouchable castes in Indian society.
Ostracize
To banish by ostracism, as in ancient Greece.
Pariah
(figurative) A similarly despised group of people or species of animal.
Ostracize
To ban a person from a city for five or ten years through the procedure of ostracism.
Pariah
(zoology) pariah dog: an Indian breed, any stray dog in Indian contexts.
Ostracize
(by extension) To exclude a person from a community or from society by not communicating with them or by refusing to acknowledge their presence; to refuse to associate with or talk to; to shun.
Thesaurus:pay attention
Pariah
One of an aboriginal people of Southern India, regarded by the four castes of the Hindus as of very low grade. They are usually the serfs of the Sudra agriculturalists. See Caste.
Ostracize
To exile by ostracism; to banish by a popular vote, as at Athens.
Pariah
An outcast; one despised by society.
Ostracize
To banish from society, by a general consent; to exclude from social, political, or private favor; to exclude from conversation or friendship; to shun; as, he was ostracized by his former friends. A person may be ostracized by a formal vote or by a widespread but informal agreement.
Pariah
A person who is rejected (from society or home)
Ostracize
Expel from a community or group
Ostracize
Avoid speaking to or dealing with;
Ever since I spoke up, my colleagues ostracize me
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