Finding the Opposite Meaning of Ostracise

The question asks us to find the word that is opposite in meaning to 'Ostracise' from the given options. To do this, we first need to understand the meaning of the word 'Ostracise'.

Understanding 'Ostracise'

The word 'Ostracise' means to exclude someone from a society or group. It often involves banishing or shunning a person, essentially rejecting them from social or political life. It implies forced exclusion or social rejection.

Analysing the Options

Let's look at the meaning of each given option:

• Embrace: To embrace someone or something means to hold them closely in one's arms, or to accept or support something willingly and enthusiastically. In a social context, embracing someone means welcoming and accepting them.
• Exile: To exile someone is to expel them from their native country or home, typically for political or punitive reasons. This is a form of forced exclusion from a place or country.
• Avoid: To avoid something or someone means to keep away from them or stop oneself from doing something. While it involves keeping distance, it doesn't necessarily imply a formal or strong social exclusion like ostracising.
• Deport: To deport someone is to expel a foreigner from a country, usually on legal grounds. This is similar to exile, another form of forced removal or exclusion from a place.

Identifying the Opposite of Ostracise

We are looking for the opposite of excluding or rejecting someone. Let's compare the meanings:

• 'Ostracise' means to exclude or reject.
• 'Exile' and 'Deport' are forms of exclusion or banishment, similar in concept to ostracise but usually related to place/country. They are closer to synonyms than opposites.
• 'Avoid' means keeping away, which can involve exclusion, but is generally weaker and less formal than ostracise.
• 'Embrace' means to welcome, accept, and include someone. This is the direct opposite of excluding or rejecting someone.

Therefore, 'Embrace' is the word that is opposite in meaning to 'Ostracise'.

Conclusion on Opposite Meaning

Based on the analysis of the definitions, 'Embrace' means to accept and welcome, which is the direct contrary action to 'Ostracise', which means to exclude and shun.

Revision Table: Ostracise Antonyms and Synonyms

Additional Information on Vocabulary

Understanding antonyms and synonyms is a key part of building vocabulary. When you learn a new word like 'Ostracise', try to learn its synonyms (words with similar meanings) and antonyms (words with opposite meanings) at the same time. This helps you understand the word more deeply and use it correctly in different contexts.

• Synonyms: Words with the same or very similar meanings.
• Antonyms: Words with opposite meanings.

For instance, the synonyms of 'Ostracise' include shun, banish, exclude, and avoid (in some contexts). The antonyms include embrace, welcome, accept, include, and integrate.