as in displeasing
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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
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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
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Recent Examples of alienating
Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 16 Mar. 2026
But by the summer of 2022, my toddler son and I were often the only Black folks on the playground in Bedford-Stuyvesant, a fact that felt both alienating and surreal.
—Naomi Jackson, Curbed, 11 Feb. 2026
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
Justin Williams, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
Blume made growing up less alienating for her readers, but there were limits to her project of destigmatization.
—Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2026
Chapek’s woes as Disney chief have been well documented, from his tangles in Florida to an ugly public spat with Scarlett Johansson to alienating top executives by removing creative decision-making authority in a hugely unpopular restructuring.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2026
At times, the company’s frenzied acting becomes theatrically alienating.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
Condemning Owens risks alienating a segment of that audience; embracing her risks reputational blowback and further blurring the boundaries between commentary and conspiracy.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 18 Mar. 2026
The sweeping breadth of the trade probes also risks alienating partners and squandering the goodwill needed to forge a collective response to address Chinese industrial overcapacity, according to experts.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 13 Mar. 2026
The White House is telling Republicans to refine their immigration messaging as the party stares down the midterm elections, a tacit acknowledgement that its hardline rhetoric about mass deportation risks alienating voters.
—Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 11 Mar. 2026
This kind of talk is also politically foolish and risks alienating the many Americans who already distrust this war.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Novels like Rachel Yoder’s Nightbitch depict the surreal and alienating days of early parenthood with an eye to de-glamorizing the post-partum experience.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 16 Mar. 2026
But by the summer of 2022, my toddler son and I were often the only Black folks on the playground in Bedford-Stuyvesant, a fact that felt both alienating and surreal.
—Naomi Jackson, Curbed, 11 Feb. 2026
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
The enhanced partnership garnered some local criticism recently over JMI partners having exclusivity to use Kentucky logos and uniforms in third-party NIL deals, and questions on whether those constraints might be alienating high-profile basketball recruits who signed elsewhere.
—Justin Williams, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
Blume made growing up less alienating for her readers, but there were limits to her project of destigmatization.
—Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2026
Chapek’s woes as Disney chief have been well documented, from his tangles in Florida to an ugly public spat with Scarlett Johansson to alienating top executives by removing creative decision-making authority in a hugely unpopular restructuring.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2026
At times, the company’s frenzied acting becomes theatrically alienating.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
Condemning Owens risks alienating a segment of that audience; embracing her risks reputational blowback and further blurring the boundaries between commentary and conspiracy.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 18 Mar. 2026
The sweeping breadth of the trade probes also risks alienating partners and squandering the goodwill needed to forge a collective response to address Chinese industrial overcapacity, according to experts.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 13 Mar. 2026
The White House is telling Republicans to refine their immigration messaging as the party stares down the midterm elections, a tacit acknowledgement that its hardline rhetoric about mass deportation risks alienating voters.
—Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 11 Mar. 2026
This kind of talk is also politically foolish and risks alienating the many Americans who already distrust this war.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alienating
Adjective
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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
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This causes a rift within the family, particularly angering the eldest son, Erik, who feels deeply betrayed.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
25 Mar. 2026
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The administration also decided to allow the up to 80,000 metric tons of low-tariff, lower-quality beef from Argentina to be imported to help keep grocery prices down, angering cattle ranchers who argue the decision will hurt domestic production and sales.—
Jennifer Jacobs,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But others can ask to maintain more creative control if interested, rather than the traditional practice of ceding it to the industry.—
Leah Asmelash,
CNN Money,
29 Mar. 2026
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Boulee gave the two parties a deadline to agree on a mediator and come to the table, but with the deadline approaching, officials say neither side was ceding any ground.—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Granular, often infuriating descriptions like that one are ultimately what make Hail Mary sing.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Mar. 2026
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Instead of infuriating customers at drive-thrus, the company is looking to exasperate its existing employees with the tech instead.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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However, the polite thing to do to maintain some sort of family connection would be to send a gift to the happy couple, along with a card conveying your good wishes.—
Jeanne Phillips,
Dallas Morning News,
30 Mar. 2026
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Yet the ballads are also strong, conveying palpable sorrow as the family members figure up their losses.—
Rob Hubbard,
Twin Cities,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
-
Voters, in approving adding gambling to the state constitution, approved language assigning up to 15,000 slot machines divided between those facilities.—
Bryan P. Sears,
Baltimore Sun,
25 Mar. 2026
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The Muddy Waters report also alleges that SoFi has been assigning the wrong discount rate to its student loan portfolio—essentially overvaluing it—as well as understating its exposure to loans in default.—
Jeff John Roberts,
Fortune,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But every single thing that is enraging us about what’s going on at the federal level is also happening right here in Tarrant County.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Mar. 2026
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Talking about a movie, good or bad, is free marketing, and Fennell seems to understand better than most that enraging potential ticket-holders is a promotional strategy.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Alienating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alienating. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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