Synonym Chooser

How does the verb alienate contrast with its synonyms?

The words disaffect and estrange are common synonyms of alienate. While all three words mean "to cause one to break a bond of affection or loyalty," alienate may or may not suggest separation but always implies loss of affection or interest.

managed to alienate all his coworkers

When is it sensible to use disaffect instead of alienate?

The meanings of disaffect and alienate largely overlap; however, disaffect refers especially to those from whom loyalty is expected and stresses the effects (such as rebellion or discontent) of alienation without actual separation.

troops disaffected by hunger

In what contexts can estrange take the place of alienate?

Although the words estrange and alienate have much in common, estrange implies the development of indifference or hostility with consequent separation or divorcement.

his estranged wife

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of alienate Like Joe Biden’s election a year earlier, his win was a triumph of the Democratic Party’s moderate Black base over the radical-chic faculty liberals and their alienating ideas. Molly Ball, Time, 29 Oct. 2025 Some in Seoul’s government worry that stronger ties to Trump could invite Chinese retaliation or alienate progressive voters. Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2025 Musk's political stance has alienated environmentally minded Democratic buyers - historically Tesla's strongest base - according to surveys cited in the report. Akash Sriram, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025 Instead of alienating such global swing states, the United States should be working with them. Richard Fontaine, Foreign Affairs, 27 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for alienate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alienate
Verb
  • That defeat denied Indianapolis a playoff appearance and infuriated the man in charge of it all.
    James Boyd, New York Times, 5 Nov. 2025
  • The lack of details about the operations has infuriated members of Congress on both sides of the political spectrum.
    Mike Brest, The Washington Examiner, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Notably, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski has decided to cede play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Tommy Rees for the upcoming game.
    Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
  • The whispers of China’s rise have been ongoing since the Obama administration, but the power that was unintentionally ceded due to the actions taken by the first and second Trump administrations cannot be overlooked.
    Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • That loss of sales has already angered many Midwestern soybean farmers, who see the administration’s Argentina outreach as benefiting a competitor while leaving American exporters disadvantaged.
    Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
  • The deal could improve America’s relationship with its chief economic adversary while angering key allies and its two biggest trading partners.
    David Goldman, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • There’s a certain unpredictability and fleet-footedness required to play this budding outlaw, and the actor can’t convey any excitement in the part.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025
  • The surgeon general serves in the Department of Health and Human Services and issues public advisories and reports to convey health information to the public.
    Will Stone, NPR, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The accusations came after Harry—who is estranged from William, Kate and his father King Charles—sent a wreath and a handwritten letter to be placed in honor of his grandfather, Prince Philip, at the Burma Star Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum in London on September 2025.
    Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Walton, who’d come out at 30 years old, was estranged from some of his.
    Katherine Laidlaw, HubSpot, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Yet, despite this military setback, the militia in Lebanon shows no intention of relinquishing its weapons.
    Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2025
  • Georgia Tech led 17-14 before the Wolfpack’s Cody Hardy scored his second touchdown of the first half, and NC State (5-4, 2-3) never relinquished the lead from there.
    Manny Navarro, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • While this violation enrages the village’s women, the men who make up the Panchayat (village council) try and fail to cast her out of town.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 30 Oct. 2025
  • Trump raised tariffs on Canada from 25 percent to 35 percent over the weekend, enraged over an anti-tariff ad aired in the Ontario province featuring President Ronald Reagan.
    Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Certainly there are some high schools that are still assigning and engaging with The Great Gatsby in full.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2025
  • The Ratings Board watches every movie in its entirety and assigns it a rating and descriptor that aligns with the views of the majority of American parents.
    Todd Spangler, Variety, 5 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Alienate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alienate. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.

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