defamiliarize
verb
de·fa·mil·iar·ize
(ˌ)dē-fə-ˈmil-yə-ˌrīz 
defamiliarized; defamiliarizing; defamiliarizes
: to present or render in an unfamiliar artistic form usually to stimulate fresh perception
Examples of defamiliarize in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
And these fragments, when examined closely, defamiliarize ordinary consensus reality in a manner different from that of hypnagogia.
—
Michael W. Clune, Harper’s Magazine , 16 Mar. 2022
The newness of the technology alters each new disaster just enough to defamiliarize the situation and to allow people to forget striking similarities with the past.
—Mar Hicks, Wired, 14 Oct. 2021
Michael W. Clune, Harper’s Magazine , 16 Mar. 2022
The newness of the technology alters each new disaster just enough to defamiliarize the situation and to allow people to forget striking similarities with the past.
—Mar Hicks, Wired, 14 Oct. 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'defamiliarize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1965, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near defamiliarize
Cite this Entry
“Defamiliarize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defamiliarize. Accessed 10 Dec. 2023.
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