pariah — a person who is rejected or despised by their society or social group; an outcast
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a person who is rejected or despised by their society or social group; an outcast
Pronunciation (IPA): /pəˈraɪə/
Example Sentences
- After forgetting to bring snacks to the office party three times in a row, Jake became the office pariah.
- The celebrity turned into a pariah overnight when the scandal broke.
- In high school, wearing the wrong brand of sneakers could make you a fashion pariah.
pariah
NOUN[/pəˈraɪə/]
a person who is rejected or despised by their society or social group; an outcast

Rejected outcast sitting alone

Maria became a pariah, shunned by all who pass via
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Tamil 'paraiyar', the name of a low-caste group of drum players in South India. The word entered English through Portuguese and other European languages during colonial contact with India.
Breakdown
Tamil 'paraiyar' (drummers/low caste) > Portuguese 'pareia' > English 'pariah' (a person of low social status or outcast)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“After forgetting to bring snacks to the office party three times in a row, Jake became the office pariah.”
“The celebrity turned into a pariah overnight when the scandal broke.”
“In high school, wearing the wrong brand of sneakers could make you a fashion pariah.”
“The whistleblower was treated as a pariah by his former colleagues.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
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