as in displeasing
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
1
as in angering
to cause to change from friendly or loving to unfriendly or uncaring
her changed position on the issue surprised and alienated many of her supporters
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ceding
to give over the legal possession or ownership of
landowners have a right to alienate their right of ownership—in other words, they can sell the land if they want to
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of alienating
Will Tavlin, Vulture, 31 Dec. 2025
This and more made growing up in Florida a strange experience both warm and alienating.
—Vogue, 18 Oct. 2025
But Beau is a very strange, alienating, ambitious, experimental film, and my hope is that people find it over the years.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2025
Johnson’s familiarity is key to bringing audiences close to Kerr and helps the film overcome its potentially alienating storyline.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 9 Oct. 2025
Their approach is assertive and inviting rather than aggressive and alienating.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
The constant stream of news about the chaos of the economy can be both disturbing and alienating, but Rodgers points out that staying connected with others can be crucial during the present political climate.
—Essence, 7 Aug. 2025
Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
ClassPass, the fitness subscription service, illustrates how narrow the line can be between improving conversion and alienating users.
—Esade Business & Law School, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
This subtle change should be a welcome update for many skiers—without alienating the low-volume crowd the Promachine has always catered to.
—Jenny Wiegand, Outside, 23 Jan. 2026
So even business leaders who aren’t true believers could ask why risk alienating the famously vindictive, most powerful person in the world — and his army of supporters — when doing so would accomplish little, if anything?
—Gautam Mukunda, Mercury News, 17 Jan. 2026
Poor assortments, confusing pricing, and thin staffing were alienating customers.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Holding the two halves together builds something that neither half could make alone, and treating either as infallible turns them into engines for manufacturing enemies and alienating friends.
—Robert T.f. Downes, Hartford Courant, 6 Jan. 2026
Choose authenticity over provocation, and allow transformation without burning bridges or alienating allies in the process this month.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026
Fastvold draws a natural line between the deaths of Ann’s children and her understandable desire to avoid procreation altogether, while also taking her often alienating religious views seriously.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 2 Jan. 2026
Adjective
The bit, pretentious and alienating, went viral for the wrong reasons.
—Will Tavlin, Vulture, 31 Dec. 2025
This and more made growing up in Florida a strange experience both warm and alienating.
—Vogue, 18 Oct. 2025
But Beau is a very strange, alienating, ambitious, experimental film, and my hope is that people find it over the years.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2025
Johnson’s familiarity is key to bringing audiences close to Kerr and helps the film overcome its potentially alienating storyline.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 9 Oct. 2025
Their approach is assertive and inviting rather than aggressive and alienating.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
The constant stream of news about the chaos of the economy can be both disturbing and alienating, but Rodgers points out that staying connected with others can be crucial during the present political climate.
—Essence, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
Trump’s words and actions are alienating us from our close allies.
—Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
ClassPass, the fitness subscription service, illustrates how narrow the line can be between improving conversion and alienating users.
—Esade Business & Law School, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
This subtle change should be a welcome update for many skiers—without alienating the low-volume crowd the Promachine has always catered to.
—Jenny Wiegand, Outside, 23 Jan. 2026
So even business leaders who aren’t true believers could ask why risk alienating the famously vindictive, most powerful person in the world — and his army of supporters — when doing so would accomplish little, if anything?
—Gautam Mukunda, Mercury News, 17 Jan. 2026
Poor assortments, confusing pricing, and thin staffing were alienating customers.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Holding the two halves together builds something that neither half could make alone, and treating either as infallible turns them into engines for manufacturing enemies and alienating friends.
—Robert T.f. Downes, Hartford Courant, 6 Jan. 2026
Choose authenticity over provocation, and allow transformation without burning bridges or alienating allies in the process this month.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026
Fastvold draws a natural line between the deaths of Ann’s children and her understandable desire to avoid procreation altogether, while also taking her often alienating religious views seriously.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 2 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alienating
Adjective
-
While certain oils work well together (like lemon and tea tree, sweet orange and cinnamon, peppermint and rosemary), aim to mix only two to three oils when blending to avoid a displeasing or overpowering fragrance.—
Patricia Shannon,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
And all the while, our gutless politicians watch from the sidelines so as to not interfere and risk angering their party.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Jan. 2026
-
With an economy that is persistently reliant on crude, pursuing policies that raise energy costs risks angering constituents.—
Justin Worland,
Time,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Once the dominant player in chips, Intel has struggled to keep pace with rivals over the past decade, ceding ground to Qualcomm and Nvidia in crucial areas like mobile and AI.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN Money,
8 Jan. 2026
-
That was the fate of the East European Communist dictatorships, in a variety of ways—Wojciech Jaruzelski of Poland reluctantly ceding power to Lech Wałęsa and Polish democrats, or Nicolae Ceauşescu ending up riddled with his soldiers’ bullets.—
Eliot A. Cohen,
The Atlantic,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The implications are infuriating.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The hosts’ stand-in captain was at his eccentric best, infuriating bowlers and fielders alike.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Yard signs, flags, murals, memorials, ribbons and graffiti silently speak volumes of what this city and region have faced, conveying the idea that life here doesn’t move on from grief but instead moves forward hand in hand with it and forever changed by it.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Costume designer Lissy Turner drapes Parsons in flowy layers and embroidered velvet, conveying everything the audience needs to know about this woman and her kooky, open-minded beliefs.—
Katie Rife,
IndieWire,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
So, how can an organization remain current on customers' ever-changing needs and expectations without annoying or estranging them?—
Chip Bell,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Talk about learning from mistakes, without assigning blame or dramatizing setbacks.—
Cheryl Robinson,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
-
What date will Southwest start assigning seats?—
Michael Salerno,
AZCentral.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Cramped, about living with debilitating period pain, is funny, educational, and at times enraging.—
Benjamin Cannon,
The Atlantic,
23 Dec. 2025
-
Paul’s antics are enraging, a bit funny, and a perfect encapsulation of the Chris Paul experience.—
Hanif Abdurraqib,
New Yorker,
11 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Alienating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alienating. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
