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

Tessa Thompson and Jon Bernthal star as an estranged married couple, Anna and Jack, who are clashing over the case. —Dana Feldman, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026

Pic follows estranged relatives (Gunning, Corden) of a famous painter, Julian Sklar, (McKellen) who enlist the help of a struggling artist (Coel) to steal and complete the artist’s unfinished works. —Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 21 Jan. 2026

This step can also serve as an intermediary one before needing to become estranged. —Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 21 Jan. 2026

The list was comprised of 10 names, including his estranged brother Prince William and his sister-in-law Kate Middleton. —Emma Banks, InStyle, 21 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1538, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for estranged

• disarranged
• interchanged
• prearranged
• rearranged
• arranged
• exchanged
• unchanged
• changed
• ranged