ALIENATE Synonyms: 99 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

alienate

verb

ˈā-lē-ə-ˌnāt

Definition of alienate

as in to infuriate

to cause to change from friendly or loving to unfriendly or uncaring her changed position on the issue surprised and alienated many of her supporters

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to cede

to give over the legal possession or ownership of landowners have a right to alienate their right of ownership—in other words, they can sell the land if they want to

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

expropriate

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 Even at his most contrarian, his material never feels alienating. — Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026 Isak is stoic and practical, seeking to carve himself a place in this still-unclaimed land; Inger, whose cleft palate has left her feeling alienated from the outside world, finally feels accepted enough to carve it with him. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026 Qualley holds this all together with a tricky performance that sometimes is actually alienating. — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 13 Sep. 2026 In particular, the absence of the UAE and the dissolution of the STC have alienated an important southern constituency in the anti-Houthi coalition and deprived the coalition of a militarily capable external backer. — April Longley Alley, Foreign Affairs, 11 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for alienate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for alienate

Verb

Some administration officials argue that Washington is merely trying to avoid unnecessarily infuriating Beijing.

— David Sacks, Foreign Affairs, 28 Sep. 2026
Some descendants worry that the new research from Kurin and his colleagues will only infuriate die-hard Jefferson apologists further.

— Andrew Lawler, The Atlantic, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of infuriate

Verb

That war of wills ended with the Emirates ceding control of Bab el-Mandeb — along with the nearby island of Perim, where the Emirates had built a drone airbase — to Saudi Arabia.

— Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2026
The reality, however, appears to be that Isaacman does not want to cede any more time in this race and is thus pushing for as many cargo and crew missions as possible to the Moon as soon as possible.

— Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of cede

Verb

Lange, bless her, lends some stability to this narratively shaky material through her performance, effectively conveying a mix of vulnerability and grit as Constance.

— Jen Chaney, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2026
These colors are similar to those used in Rainbow Row, a series of thirteen historical, Georgian homes in Charleston, and convey a colorful, coastal character that attracts tourists year-round.

— The Spruce, The Spruce, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of convey

Verb

The most auspicious absence was Kanye West, Jay’s estranged former protégé, who is arguably the only other solo rapper who could draw crowds of this size.

— Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026
Haunted by the death of a soldier who once loved her and is estranged from her husband Ben (Jonathan Stoddard), she is assigned to cover a miracle in Argentina.

— Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of estrange

Verb

One panel was falling, then smashing on the path, lead relinquishing its long grip on the glass.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
Underhill ended the discussion by proposing that Diamantis relinquish the Greek passport to the court when it was returned to him.

— Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of relinquish

Verb

The drama reignited a heated debate over the tech threatening to put human creatives in the industry out of a job, a nightmare scenario that has enraged some of the most influential minds in Hollywood.

— Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 10 Sep. 2026
Monken has decided to stick with Deshaun Watson as his QB1, a move that has confused and enraged some of the fanbase.

— Takashi Williams, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of enrage

Browse Nearby Words

alien

alienate

alienated

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“Alienate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alienate. Accessed 1 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of alienate

verb

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