social rejection
Deliberate peer exclusion
Social rejection is the experience of being deliberately excluded, ignored, or pushed away by others, whether by individuals, groups, or society at large.
It ranges from subtle snubs to outright ostracism and can occur in any social context—romantic relationships, friendships, workplaces, or online spaces.
The social rejection she felt after being left out of the party lingered for weeks.
Because humans are wired for belonging, social rejection often triggers emotional pain that research suggests activates the same brain regions as physical pain.
State of lacking companions
- alienationState of being isolated
- withdrawalAct of taking away
- solitudeState of being alone
- disconnectionState of being severed
estrangement · abandonment · detachment · separateness · seclusion · outcast · pariah · loner
Persistently avoided socially
- snubbedIntentionally disregarded
- blackballedRejected by anonymous vote
- uninvitedWithout formal welcome
- sidelinedRemoved from participation
cold-shouldered · ignored · dismissed · spurned · rebuffed · unwelcome · left out · shut out
Unjust differential treatment
- prejudicePreformed unfavorable opinion
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- disgraceLoss of honor
- tabooCultural or social prohibition
stereotype · labeling · bias · bigotry · intolerance · disapproval · condemnation · judgment
Cause or feel pain
- painBodily or emotional distress
- heartbreakCrushing emotional pain
- devastationSevere widespread destruction
- crushedCompressed into fragments
wounded · humiliated · embarrassed · worthless · unwanted · unlovable · insecure · self-doubt
Aggressive, unwanted targeting
- intimidationDeliberate fear-inducing pressure
- teasingPlayful, mild ridicule
- tauntingInsulting to provoke
- mockeryScornful ridicule or travesty
ridicule · humiliation · torment · cruelty · cyberbullying · hazing · scapegoating · belittling
loneliness
State of lacking companions
- alienationState of being isolated
- withdrawalAct of taking away
- solitudeState of being alone
disconnection · estrangement · abandonment · detachment · separateness · seclusion · outcast · pariah · loner · misfit
shunned
Persistently avoided socially
- snubbedIntentionally disregarded
- blackballedRejected by anonymous vote
- uninvitedWithout formal welcome
sidelined · cold-shouldered · ignored · dismissed · spurned · rebuffed · unwelcome · left out · shut out · frozen out
discrimination
Unjust differential treatment
taboo · stereotype · labeling · bias · bigotry · intolerance · disapproval · condemnation · judgment · marked
hurt
Cause or feel pain
- painBodily or emotional distress
- heartbreakCrushing emotional pain
- devastationSevere widespread destruction
crushed · wounded · humiliated · embarrassed · worthless · unwanted · unlovable · insecure · self-doubt · shame
harassment
Aggressive, unwanted targeting
- intimidationDeliberate fear-inducing pressure
- teasingPlayful, mild ridicule
- tauntingInsulting to provoke
mockery · ridicule · humiliation · torment · cruelty · cyberbullying · hazing · scapegoating · belittling · name-calling
- disgracedishonor, disgrace, downfall, stigma, scandal
- teen anxietytest anxiety, school anxiety, peer pressure, self-doubt, nervousness
- alienationestrangement, disconnection, outsider, outcast, ostracism
- LGBTQ discriminationhomophobia, transphobia, biphobia, hate crimes, prejudice
- social stigmastigma, stigmatized, shame, shamed, disgrace
- adolescencepuberty, teenager, coming-of-age, growing up, teen
social rejectionsocial acceptance
Being welcomed by peers
acceptance · inclusion · welcome · approval · embrace
social rejectioninclusion
Being made part
social inclusion · social acceptance · acceptance · belonging · integration
social, reject, rejected, sociable, rejection, exclusion, unsociable, ostracize, socially