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 Its closure would alienate Tehran further In another blow to the bill's prospects, the Senate parliamentarian, Elizabeth MacDonough, has ordered the removal of some key elements in the bill. Erin Doherty, CNBC, 24 June 2025 The author has come under fire in recent years for her transphobic rhetoric and hostile views on gender identity, alienating generations of fans and drawing condemnation from the movie's stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint. EW.com, 23 June 2025 But Tuchel has risked alienating his talisman, who surely won’t have appreciated the comments. Tim Spiers, New York Times, 13 June 2025 Members were becoming alienated from one another, and bandleader Sly Stone in particular was dealing with all kinds of internal and external pressures, which led to health issues and a retreat from the spotlight, and both exorbitant spending and heavy drug use to cope with all of it. Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 12 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for alienate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alienate
Verb
  • The cost of the wedding has been estimated at up to nearly $50M, infuriating locals and activists who claim Amazon pays minimal taxes in European countries and point to Bezos’ use of his extreme personal wealth to effectively take over parts of the historic city, disrupting daily life.
    Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 26 June 2025
  • His unwillingness to compromise made the restaurant unfeasibly expensive to run, infuriating his investor, family friend Uncle Jimmy (a.k.a.
    Judy Berman, Time, 26 June 2025
Verb
  • That’s because the SLAM academy is legally a public school, though run privately, which clears the way for the city to cede property to it.
    Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 26 June 2025
  • Four months after fans of the James Bond franchise decried the deal struck between Amazon MGM with producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson to cede creative control of the 007 franchise, hope has arrived in the form of famed director Denis Villeneuve.
    Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 25 June 2025
Verb
  • Cambodia angered by neighbor’s new restrictions on border crossings PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- Cambodia's government on Tuesday accused Thailand of escalating border tensions by imposing new restrictions that have blocked almost all land crossings, especially for tourists heading into Cambodia.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 25 June 2025
  • As a mom, I’m angered at the existence of so many abusers who lure children through the internet.
    Nicole Russell, USA Today, 20 June 2025
Verb
  • But all that riz ultimately serves to convey a lacerating critique of American gun violence.
    Literary Hub July 1, Literary Hub, 1 July 2025
  • But two of the endeavor’s most compelling aspects are difficult to convey in any individual image, no matter how spectacular: the sheer amount of data Rubin will produce and the speed with which those data will flood into astronomers’ work.
    Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • After all, Rodgers has been notoriously estranged from his family for about a decade.
    Martha Ross, Mercury News, 25 June 2025
  • Offset is currently estranged from Cardi B, who filed for divorce from him for a second time in July 2024.
    Ilana Kaplan, People.com, 24 June 2025
Verb
  • While Israel wants to eradicate Hamas following the Oct. 7 attacks, the group has shown little willingness to relinquish its political and military power in Gaza.
    Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 5 July 2025
  • Lesson 4: Less data, better decisions Without her phone, my wife had to relinquish her customary role as the navigator.
    JJ Rosen, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
Verb
  • The borderline third-strike call enraged Mets manager Carlos Mendoza, who erupted from the dugout and was quickly ejected for arguing.
    Peter Sblendorio, Hartford Courant, 6 July 2025
  • Massie enraged the president by opposing Trump's continuing resolution that would keep the government operating.
    Scott Wartman, The Enquirer, 4 July 2025
Verb
  • Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Colonel Freeman Martin said during the Sunday press conference that there are 230 DPS personnel assigned to Kerr County.
    Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 July 2025
  • As of Friday afternoon, 608 personnel, four helicopters, 46 fire engines and seven bulldozers had been assigned to fight the fire.
    Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 5 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Alienate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alienate. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.

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