alienation

alien·ation | \ ˌā-lē-ə-ˈnā-shən

How to pronounce alienation (audio)

, ˌāl-yə- \

Definition of alienation

1 : a withdrawing or separation of a person or a person's affections from an object or position of former attachment : estrangement alienation … from the values of one's society and family— S. L. Halleck

2 : a conveyance of property to another

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Examples of alienation in a Sentence

after years of alienation from her family, she became reconciled with them when her father fell ill

Recent Examples on the Web People who threaten or commit violence are often themselves the victims of systemic alienation and neglect. — Savannah Behrmann, USA TODAY, "Rep. Omar asks judge for 'compassion' when sentencing man who threatened to kill her," 20 Nov. 2019 Salinger's depiction of adolescent alienation and loss of innocence in the protagonist Holden Caulfield had an appeal among adolescent readers that continues to this day. — NBC News, "J.D. Salinger exhibit at New York Public Library offers glimpse into reclusive author," 17 Oct. 2019 The first retrospective exhibit in the U.S. of the Japanese contemporary painter’s work features more than 70 pieces showing the sense of alienation and disorientation that afflicted Japan after the 1990s recession. — Samantha Nelson, chicagotribune.com, "Free things to do in Chicago this week: Asian art at Museum of Contemporary Photography, Oktoberfestiversary at Begyle Brewing," 10 Oct. 2019 Their work delves into the topics of black feminism, motherhood, the alienation of Native Americans, the culture of language, and many more issues. — Elizabeth Wolfe And Brian Ries, CNN, "Columbia's library building features the names of only male authors. After 3 decades of trying, these students have fixed that," 4 Oct. 2019 Along with further alienation of Israel’s Arab citizens. — Trudy Rubin, The Mercury News, "Rubin: Netanyahu’s West Bank annexation vow risks Israeli security," 16 Sep. 2019 Pakistanis correctly assume that India’s alienation of ordinary Kashmiris will mean more resistance in the Valley. — Johann Chacko, Quartz India, "With Kashmir move, India risks losing the upper hand of a responsible, nuclear-armed democracy," 6 Aug. 2019 But because these younger filmmakers tend to focus on social ills — income inequality, political oppression, alienation — they have largely been ignored by Hong Kong’s filmmaking establishment. — Karen Chu, The Hollywood Reporter, "Can Hong Kong’s Film Sector Stand Up to China?," 7 Nov. 2019 Gregor Samsa waking up as a cockroach shows us what alienation can be. — Jia Tolentino, The New Yorker, "How “The Memory Police” Makes You See," 6 Nov. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'alienation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near alienation

alienation of affection

alienation office

alien corporation

Statistics for alienation

Last Updated

11 Dec 2019

Cite this Entry

“Alienation.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alienation. Accessed 12 December 2019.

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