diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 771b3dc..080587b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -122,6 +122,9 @@ in the top-level composer.json file:
   (optional, see [merge-scripts](#merge-scripts) below)
 
 
+### exclude
+The `exclude` setting can stop a single or multiple files from being used in the [include](#include) setting. Similar to `include`, this setting takes a pattern that follows `glob` rules.
+
 ### require
 
 The `require` setting is identical to [`include`](#include) except when
diff --git a/src/MergePlugin.php b/src/MergePlugin.php
index a9af5b6..20b0de0 100644
--- a/src/MergePlugin.php
+++ b/src/MergePlugin.php
@@ -193,8 +193,12 @@ public function onInit(BaseEvent $event)
         // so assume it is false. The dev section will be merged later when
         // the other events fire.
         $this->state->setDevMode(false);
-        $this->mergeFiles($this->state->getIncludes(), false);
-        $this->mergeFiles($this->state->getRequires(), true);
+
+        $include_files = $this->findFiles($this->state->getIncludes(), false);
+        $exclude_files = $this->findFiles($this->state->getExcludes(), false);
+
+        $this->mergeFiles(array_diff($include_files, $exclude_files));
+        $this->mergeFiles($this->findFiles($this->state->getRequires(), true));
     }
 
     /**
@@ -208,8 +212,12 @@ public function onInstallUpdateOrDump(ScriptEvent $event)
     {
         $this->state->loadSettings();
         $this->state->setDevMode($event->isDevMode());
-        $this->mergeFiles($this->state->getIncludes(), false);
-        $this->mergeFiles($this->state->getRequires(), true);
+
+        $include_files = $this->findFiles($this->state->getIncludes(), false);
+        $exclude_files = $this->findFiles($this->state->getExcludes(), false);
+
+        $this->mergeFiles(array_diff($include_files, $exclude_files));
+        $this->mergeFiles($this->findFiles($this->state->getRequires(), true));
 
         if ($event->getName() === ScriptEvents::PRE_AUTOLOAD_DUMP) {
             $this->state->setDumpAutoloader(true);
@@ -224,17 +232,26 @@ public function onInstallUpdateOrDump(ScriptEvent $event)
      * Find configuration files matching the configured glob patterns and
      * merge their contents with the master package.
      *
-     * @param array $patterns List of files/glob patterns
-     * @param bool $required Are the patterns required to match files?
+     * @param array $files List of files
      * @throws MissingFileException when required and a pattern returns no
      *      results
      */
-    protected function mergeFiles(array $patterns, $required = false)
+    protected function mergeFiles(array $files)
     {
         $root = $this->composer->getPackage();
+        foreach ($files as $path) {
+            $this->mergeFile($root, $path);
+        }
+    }
 
-        $files = array_map(
-            static function ($files, $pattern) use ($required) {
+    /**
+     * @param array $patterns A list for files/patterns
+     * @param bool $required Are the patterns required to match files?
+     */
+    protected function findFiles(array $patterns, bool $required = false)
+    {
+        $found_files = array_map(
+            function ($files, $pattern) use ($required) {
                 if ($required && !$files) {
                     throw new MissingFileException(
                         "merge-plugin: No files matched required '{$pattern}'"
@@ -245,10 +262,7 @@ static function ($files, $pattern) use ($required) {
             array_map('glob', $patterns),
             $patterns
         );
-
-        foreach (array_reduce($files, 'array_merge', []) as $path) {
-            $this->mergeFile($root, $path);
-        }
+        return array_reduce($found_files, 'array_merge', array());
     }
 
     /**
@@ -295,8 +309,8 @@ protected function mergeFile(RootPackageInterface $root, $path)
         }
 
         if ($this->state->recurseIncludes()) {
-            $this->mergeFiles($package->getIncludes(), false);
-            $this->mergeFiles($package->getRequires(), true);
+            $this->mergeFiles($this->findFiles($package->getIncludes(), false));
+            $this->mergeFiles($this->findFiles($package->getRequires(), true));
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/PluginState.php b/src/PluginState.php
index 1987883..5a97a29 100644
--- a/src/PluginState.php
+++ b/src/PluginState.php
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 <?php
+
 /**
  * This file is part of the Composer Merge plugin.
  *
@@ -35,6 +36,11 @@ class PluginState
      */
     protected $includes = [];
 
+    /**
+     * @var array $includes
+     */
+    protected $excludes = [];
+
     /**
      * @var array $requires
      */
@@ -160,6 +166,7 @@ public function loadSettings()
         $config = array_merge(
             [
                 'include' => [],
+                'exclude' => [],
                 'require' => [],
                 'recurse' => true,
                 'replace' => false,
@@ -175,6 +182,8 @@ public function loadSettings()
 
         $this->includes = (is_array($config['include'])) ?
             $config['include'] : [$config['include']];
+        $this->excludes = (is_array($config['exclude'])) ?
+            $config['exclude'] : [$config['exclude']];
         $this->requires = (is_array($config['require'])) ?
             $config['require'] : [$config['require']];
         $this->recurse = (bool)$config['recurse'];
@@ -197,6 +206,16 @@ public function getIncludes()
         return $this->includes;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Get list of filenames and/or glob patterns to excludes
+     *
+     * @return array
+     */
+    public function getExcludes()
+    {
+        return $this->excludes;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Get list of filenames and/or glob patterns to require
      *