persona non grata
noun
per·so·na non gra·ta
pər-ˈsō-nə-ˌnän-ˈgra-tə 
-ˈgrä-
-ˈgrä-
plural personae non gratae
pər-ˈsō-(ˌ)nē-ˌnän-ˈgra-(ˌ)tē
-ˈgrä-,
-ˌnī-,
-ˌtī
: a person who is unacceptable or unwelcome
Luis Villoro is hardly a persona non grata. As he approaches the age of eighty, his position in the intelligentsia is secure.—
Scott Sherman
—typically used without a or theScott Sherman… English scientist James Lovelock, co-author of the Gaia hypothesis and once an environmental demigod. Lovelock has become persona non grata by saying that the ecosphere is so resilient no amount of human malfeasance, including nuclear war, could end life.—Gregg Easterbrook
Gregg Easterbrook"We'd been very good friends for millions of years and I thought it was a bit much for them suddenly to be personae non gratae and out of my life."—Paul McCartney
Paul McCartneyExamples of persona non grata in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Israel responded with the persona non grata declaration, effectively banning him from entering its borders.
—Peter Aitken, Fox News, 2 Oct. 2024
Even with Sterling now seemingly persona non grata, Maresca has Cole Palmer, Christopher Nkunku, Mykhailo Mudryk, Noni Madueke, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Marc Guiu, Jackson and Neto to choose from in advanced roles.
—Simon Johnson, The Athletic, 21 Aug. 2024
That this feel-good independent success story remains a relative persona non grata around the stations dedicated to playing music like his gives the lie to the notion that radio is chiefly a business of promoting the music most people want to hear.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 11 July 2024
As Prince’s trajectory illustrates, becoming persona non grata in Washington does not mean unemployment.
—Allison Stanger, Foreign Affairs, 16 June 2015
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Peter Aitken, Fox News, 2 Oct. 2024
Even with Sterling now seemingly persona non grata, Maresca has Cole Palmer, Christopher Nkunku, Mykhailo Mudryk, Noni Madueke, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Marc Guiu, Jackson and Neto to choose from in advanced roles.
—Simon Johnson, The Athletic, 21 Aug. 2024
That this feel-good independent success story remains a relative persona non grata around the stations dedicated to playing music like his gives the lie to the notion that radio is chiefly a business of promoting the music most people want to hear.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 11 July 2024
As Prince’s trajectory illustrates, becoming persona non grata in Washington does not mean unemployment.
—Allison Stanger, Foreign Affairs, 16 June 2015
See all Example Sentences for persona non grata
Dictionary Entries Near persona non grata
Cite this Entry
“Persona non grata.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/persona%20non%20grata. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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