ESTRANGE Synonyms: 57 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'estrange' contrast with its synonyms?

The words alienate and disaffect are common synonyms of estrange . While all three words mean "to cause one to break a bond of affection or loyalty," estrange implies the development of indifference or hostility with consequent separation or divorcement. // his estranged wife

Q: When could 'alienate' be used to replace 'estrange'?

The words alienate and estrange are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, alienate may or may not suggest separation but always implies loss of affection or interest. // managed to alienate all his coworkers

Q: When would 'disaffect' be a good substitute for 'estrange'?

The words disaffect and estrange can be used in similar contexts, but 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

estrange

verb

i-ˈstrānj

Definition of estrange

as in to infuriate

to cause to change from friendly or loving to unfriendly or uncaring she estranged several of her coworkers when she let her promotion go to her head

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How does the verb estrange contrast with its synonyms?

The words alienate and disaffect are common synonyms of estrange. While all three words mean "to cause one to break a bond of affection or loyalty," estrange implies the development of indifference or hostility with consequent separation or divorcement.

his estranged wife

When could alienate be used to replace estrange?

The words alienate and estrange are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, alienate may or may not suggest separation but always implies loss of affection or interest.

managed to alienate all his coworkers

When would disaffect be a good substitute for estrange?

The words disaffect and estrange can be used in similar contexts, but 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

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 estrange Carrie is estranged from her father and has had nothing to do with him for several years. — Abigail Van Buren, Arkansas Online, 6 Sep. 2026 Another country that Turkey was estranged from throughout the 2010s was Egypt. — Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026 Fernandez Saldana and Gardner are estranged, and Gardner moved to Washington state after the killing. — Ed White, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026 My mom has been estranged from her sister for years due to my aunt making poor life choices. — Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for estrange

Recent Examples of Synonyms for estrange

Verb

Sydney Sweeney is no stranger to starring in a controversial ad — and her latest effort has infuriated female athletes, including Olympians.

— Jake Kanter, Deadline, 14 Sep. 2026
But Marcia was beginning to sound like Marcia on the page, Marcia in those essays that both excited and infuriated her readers.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of infuriate

Verb

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
How Mayor Bass could reach Pratt voters The Bass and Raman campaigns could rely on outside spending groups and campaign surrogates — political allies who lean to the right of the candidates — to avoid alienating their core supporters.

— Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of alienate

Verb

But Trump’s solution, to import 300,000 metric tons of beef and sell it at a reduced cost, angered American ranchers.

— Sarah Henry, AZCentral.com, 11 Sep. 2026
Rebecca regrets angering Matthijs (Matteo van der Grijn) after putting his daughter in the middle of a heated discussion around the possibility of Matthijs moving to London.

— Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of anger

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

Verb

When bulldozers were spotted clearing land in the park in August, people across the state were outraged.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Sep. 2026
To the casual YouTube viewer, these would look like unconnected videos from political news creators outraged by events happening in cities led by Democrats.

— Max Tani, semafor.com, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of outrage

Verb

The sense of pride and accomplishment that Van Reybrouck had told me to expect was not particularly evident in the room; the mood, if anything, had soured.

— Esther King, The Dial, 15 Sep. 2026
Ideally for Detroit, the team will cement both players as franchise pillars without souring any relationships over contract value.

— Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of sour

Verb

In 2017, a dozen Muslim-majority countries severed ties with the emirate, accusing it of sponsoring terror and fomenting chaos around the world.

— Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2026
The controversial procedure, which involved severing nerve pathways in the brain’s frontal lobes to treat severe mental illnesses, had been developed by Portuguese neurologist Antonio Egas Moniz in 1935.

— Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of sever

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estivating

estrange

estranged

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“Estrange.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/estrange. Accessed 21 Sep. 2026.

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