estranged

adjective

es·​tranged i-ˈstrānjd 

: having lost former closeness and affection : in a state of alienation from a previous close or familial relationship

her estranged husband [=her husband with whom she no longer lives]

Social workers may try to resolve conflicts between estranged siblings.

—Jonathan D. Rockoff

He had taken out a life insurance policy on his estranged wife just weeks before her murder …

—David Fisher

… it's kind of shameful to admit your idea of unwinding in front of the TV is watching somebody's entire family get murdered by their greedy, estranged uncle.

—Lauren Zupkus

Examples of estranged in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The types of crimes weren’t spelled out, but imagine that a President, say, poisoned his estranged spouse and concealed the crime until after leaving the White House. — Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026

Pitt has reportedly become estranged from his children, now 18 to 24, and four have taken legal steps to drop his last name from their own. — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 10 Aug. 2026

In one episode, Jordan brought her to his hometown for a family dinner, with an empty chair representing the estranged Super Bowl champion. — Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Aug. 2026

And that could put Harry and his estranged brother William on the path towards a reunion that people expect won’t be as simple as that between father and son. — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 7 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1538, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing estranged

• estranged couple
• estranged husband
• estranged wife

Rhymes for estranged

• disarranged
• interchanged
• prearranged
• rearranged
• arranged
• exchanged
• unchanged
• changed
• ranged