pariah
Meaning: A person or entity that is despised, rejected, or shunned by others; a social outcast.
Pariah describes complete social exclusion — a person or entity treated as untouchable by their community or peers. 'A social pariah,' 'a pariah state,' and 'treated as a pariah' are standard collocations. In international relations, 'pariah state' describes a country isolated by the international community through sanctions and diplomatic exclusion. The word carries a stronger sense of disgrace than 'outcast,' implying that the exclusion is deserved or at least widely accepted.
Examples
- After the scandal, he became a pariah in the financial world, unable to find employment at any reputable firm. 丑闻之后,他成了金融界的弃儿,在任何一家声誉良好的公司都找不到工作。Tras el escándalo, se convirtió en un paria en el mundo financiero, incapaz de encontrar empleo en ninguna firma respetable.スキャンダルの後、彼は金融界ののけ者となり、どの信頼ある企業にも就職できなくなった。스캔들 이후 그는 금융계에서 천덕꾸러기가 되어 어떤 신뢰받는 기업에서도 일자리를 구하지 못했다.
- The regime's human rights record turned the country into a pariah state, cut off from international trade. 该政权的人权记录使该国沦为被孤立的国家,被切断了国际贸易。El historial de derechos humanos del régimen convirtió al país en un Estado paria, aislado del comercio internacional.その政権の人権実績により、国は国際社会から断絶されたのけ者国家と化した。그 정권의 인권 기록으로 인해 국가는 국제 무역에서 단절된 왕따 국가로 전락했다.
- She felt like a pariah at school after refusing to go along with the group's behaviour. 在拒绝附和团体行为后,她在学校里感觉自己像个弃儿。Se sentía como una paria en el colegio después de negarse a secundar la conducta del grupo.グループの行動に同調することを拒んだ後、彼女は学校でのけ者のように感じた。집단의 행동에 동조하기를 거부한 후, 그녀는 학교에서 왕따가 된 것 같은 기분이 들었다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: media, professional, academic
Tone: negative
Origin & History
From Tamil paraiyar (plural of paraiyan, a hereditary drummer), the name of a low-caste group in southern India. British colonists adopted the word in the 17th century to mean 'social outcast,' though the original Tamil community was not the lowest in the caste hierarchy.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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