alienate

verb

alien·​ate ˈā-lē-ə-ˌnāt 

ˈāl-yə-

alienated; alienating

transitive verb

1

: to cause to be estranged : to make unfriendly, hostile, or indifferent especially where attachment formerly existed

He alienated most of his colleagues with his bad temper.

Her position on this issue has alienated many former supporters.

2

: to convey or transfer (something, such as property or a right) usually by a specific act rather than the due course of law

3

: to cause to be withdrawn or diverted

alienate capital from its natural channels

alienator

ˈā-lē-ə-ˌnā-tər 

ˈāl-yə-

noun

Synonyms

• alien
• disaffect
• disgruntle
• estrange
• sour

Choose the Right Synonym for alienate

estrange, alienate, disaffect 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

alienate may or may not suggest separation but always implies loss of affection or interest.

managed to alienate all his coworkers

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Surely DeSantis doesn’t want to alienate Trump’s fervent, though possibly shrinking, fan base. —Manuel Roig-franzia, Washington Post, 27 Feb. 2023

For workplaces that promote themselves as equitable and progressive, reluctance to share pay data can alienate employees and jobseekers, said Tauseef Rahman, a partner at consultancy Mercer who has studied the evolution of pay transparency. —Dallas News, 8 Nov. 2022

Of course, that works both ways: Music used well can generate positive goodwill, but a poor musical choice can quickly alienate consumers. —Isabel Rafferty, Forbes, 9 Sep. 2021

House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, who is struggling to cobble together the 218 votes needed to become speaker and can’t afford to alienate the hard-right wing, was likewise restrained. —Dallas News, 6 Dec. 2022

That could alienate him from the 23% of voters who are registered as having no party preference. —Joe Garofoli, San Francisco Chronicle, 17 Aug. 2022

Unfortunately, calling your teen's relationship into question may serve to alienate them. —Stephanie H. Murray, The Week, 16 Aug. 2022

The company has good reason not to alienate Mr. Weisselberg. —William K. Rashbaum, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2023

Pollster Lee Carter, who conducted the survey through her company Maslansky + Partners, noted that voters across the board felt Kemp held his own and did not alienate voters, but also did nothing to inspire. —Nikolas Lanum, Fox News, 7 Nov. 2022

See More

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin aliēnātus, past participle of aliēnāre "to transfer (goods, property) to another, lose possession of, render hostile, estrange," verbal derivative of aliēnus "not one's own, of others, foreign, strange" — more at alien entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

alienate

verb

alien·​ate ˈā-lē-ə-ˌnāt 

ˈāl-yə-ˌnāt

alienated; alienating

1

: to transfer (as a title, property, or right) to another

2

: to cause (one who used to be friendly or loyal) to become unfriendly or disloyal

Medical Definition

alienate

transitive verb

alien·​ate ˈā-lē-ə-ˌnāt, ˈāl-yə- 

alienated; alienating

: to make unfriendly, hostile, or indifferent where attachment formerly existed

Legal Definition

alienate

transitive verb

alien·​ate ˈā-lē-ə-ˌnāt 

alienated; alienating

: to give away or sell (property or a property right) to another

will not sell, transfer, assign, hypothecate or otherwise alienate any of his voting shares

—Strickland v. Rahaim, 549 So. 2d 58 (1989)

compare devise

alienation

ˌā-lē-ə-ˈnā-shən, ˌāl-yə- 

noun

Etymology

Latin alienare, from alienus not one's own