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

Shot entirely in Haiti’s northern Cap-Haïtien region, The Tropic Sun and His Eyes follows a young man attempting to reconnect with his estranged father, guided by a street kid who becomes an unexpected companion. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 26 June 2026

Throughout the previous night’s dinner service, Marcus was in a bad headspace spurred on by his estranged father’s solo visit to the Bear. — Jake Kring-Schreifels, Time, 26 June 2026

The Stranger Things alums are set to star as estranged father-daughter spies. — Derek Lawrence, Entertainment Weekly, 26 June 2026

Rouse said Zajko had become estranged from her parents, but her mother reached out via text message to resolve the conflict on New Year's Eve 2022, Zajko's birthday. — N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 24 June 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