alienation

noun alien·ation \ ˌā-lē-ə-ˈnā-shən , 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

See alienation defined for kids

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 of alienation from the Web

After years of alienation by Baghdad’s Shia government, many of Mosul’s Sunnis welcomed ISIS in 2014.

— andrew doran, National Review, "Bulletin from Mosul — the Mission Is Still Far from Accomplished," 14 July 2017
Socialists argue that profit-making in a competitive market leads inevitably to exploitation and alienation.

— donald brand, Fortune, "Why Bernie Sanders Isn’t Actually a Socialist," 12 July 2017
But this 20th-anniversary reissue of the influential album that firmly established Radiohead as artistes of alienation is a well put together package, expanded with three unreleased tracks and 8 B-sides.

— dan deluca, Philly.com, "Dan DeLuca's Mix Picks: Music from 'Masterpiece,' Radiohead, and New York City rock," 29 June 2017
Confessions about her alienation from her own clothing and the existential terror of preparing to take a package to the post office are riveting.

— dusty somers, The Seattle Times, "Review: Strong cast lifts the family pathos in ‘Downstairs’ at ACT," 22 June 2017
When Lorde appeared four years ago, the idea that drove the young New Zealander’s music was a prideful alienation from the supposedly hollow pageantry of pop culture.

— mikael wood, star-telegram.com, "Lorde returns with mixed feelings on the often bracing ‘Melodrama’," 20 June 2017
His subsequent monologue — which actor Wrekless Watson invests with almost preacher-esque passion and verve — expounds on the themes of poverty and alienation that have been bubbling up in more indirect terms throughout Christina Anderson’s play.

— james hebert, sandiegouniontribune.com, "'Blacktop' offers glimpses of pain, compassion," 12 June 2017
There’s a song about alienation, one about aging, one about futility, some obscure enough to be hard to decipher and some all for fun.

— chris kaltenbach, baltimoresun.com, "It took a couple months for The Sun to notice The Beatles' 'Sgt. Pepper' in 1967," 1 June 2017
All of those things contributed to a sense for many people, particularly white working-class people, of alienation.

— jaweed kaleem, latimes.com, "Richard Cohen, president of the Southern Poverty Law Center, on Trump and what counts as 'hate'," 31 May 2017

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.

Origin and Etymology of alienation

see ¹alien

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

alienation Synonyms

Synonyms

estrangement, disaffection, disgruntlement, souring

Antonyms

reconcilement, reconciliation

Related Words

antagonism, embitterment, envenoming; breach, breakup, divorce, rift, rupture, schism, separation, split; animosity, antagonism, antipathy, bitterness, hostility, jaundice, rancor; aggravation, furor, fury, incensing, indignation, infuriation, ire, outrage, rage, spleen, wrath; disenchantment, disillusionment

Near Antonyms

endearment, ingratiation; appeasement, conciliation, mollification, pacification, propitiation

Other Psychology Terms

fetish, hypochondria, intelligence, mania, narcissism, neurosis, pathological, psychosis, schadenfreude, subliminal

Medical Dictionary

alienation

noun alien·ation \ ˌā-lē-ə-ˈnā-shən, ˌāl-yə- \

medical Definition of alienation

:a withdrawing or separation of a person or a person's affections from an object or position of former attachment

alienation…from the values of one's society and family
—S. L. Halleck

Learn More about alienation

See words that rhyme with alienation Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for alienation Spanish Central: Translation of alienation Nglish: Translation of alienation for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of alienation for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about alienation

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alienation

Definition of alienation

Examples of alienation in a Sentence

Recent Examples of alienation from the Web

Origin and Etymology of alienation

alienation Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Other Psychology Terms

Medical Dictionary

alienation

medical Definition of alienation

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alienation

Definition of alienation

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Examples of alienation in a Sentence

Recent Examples of alienation from the Web

Origin and Etymology of alienation

alienation Synonyms

Synonyms

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Related Words

Near Antonyms

Other Psychology Terms

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alienation

medical Definition of alienation

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