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
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
Pintu Kumar Mahla, The Conversation, 3 Nov. 2025
That said, price increases at cafés and restaurants often lag the wholesale market, since operators typically buy beans under contract or adjust menus gradually to avoid alienating price-sensitive customers.
—Mike Winters, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2025
Like Joe Biden’s election a year earlier, his win was a triumph of the Democratic Party’s moderate Black base over the radical-chic faculty liberals and their alienating ideas.
—Molly Ball, Time, 29 Oct. 2025
Instead of alienating such global swing states, the United States should be working with them.
—Richard Fontaine, Foreign Affairs, 27 Oct. 2025
As consumer expectations for brand values rise, many companies are unsure how to communicate social purpose without alienating customers.
—Tensie Whelan, Harvard Business Review, 24 Oct. 2025
Far from being doomed by his polarizing legacy, Republicans are poised to emerge as the party of the sensible center, representing the non-polarized public, while Democrats, mired in anti-Trump fervor, risk alienating the masses with diminished appeal.
—Nafees Alam, Twin Cities, 22 Oct. 2025
This decision was partly motivated by the fact that the filmmakers didn't want to risk alienating churchgoers with controversial depictions of demons and Hell.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 21 Oct. 2025
The goal is to make the right person feel at home, without alienating anybody else.
—Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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
For Bangladesh, the potential catastrophe of not tackling cascading environmental challenges justifies the risk of alienating its far more powerful neighbor.
—Pintu Kumar Mahla, The Conversation, 3 Nov. 2025
That said, price increases at cafés and restaurants often lag the wholesale market, since operators typically buy beans under contract or adjust menus gradually to avoid alienating price-sensitive customers.
—Mike Winters, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2025
Like Joe Biden’s election a year earlier, his win was a triumph of the Democratic Party’s moderate Black base over the radical-chic faculty liberals and their alienating ideas.
—Molly Ball, Time, 29 Oct. 2025
Instead of alienating such global swing states, the United States should be working with them.
—Richard Fontaine, Foreign Affairs, 27 Oct. 2025
As consumer expectations for brand values rise, many companies are unsure how to communicate social purpose without alienating customers.
—Tensie Whelan, Harvard Business Review, 24 Oct. 2025
Far from being doomed by his polarizing legacy, Republicans are poised to emerge as the party of the sensible center, representing the non-polarized public, while Democrats, mired in anti-Trump fervor, risk alienating the masses with diminished appeal.
—Nafees Alam, Twin Cities, 22 Oct. 2025
This decision was partly motivated by the fact that the filmmakers didn't want to risk alienating churchgoers with controversial depictions of demons and Hell.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 21 Oct. 2025
The goal is to make the right person feel at home, without alienating anybody else.
—Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alienating
Verb
-
The board instead approved a resolution to reexamine current campus spaces, angering some parents.—
Imani Cruzen,
Twin Cities,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Meanwhile another son, Eduardo, lobbied US officials to impose tariffs on Brazil in response to the verdict, angering many back home.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
29 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The hosts, after ceding control of Game 1, pressed Miami and made the match scrappy.—
Henry Bushnell,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
-
So many seem eager to be rid of the labors of thought and expression—the very labors that define them as free and autonomous human beings—by ceding them to generative artificial intelligence.—
Elizabeth D. Samet,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Oct. 2025
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
-
As a state senator, Jones did vote for a 2017 law that opened a narrow exception in Georgia's law prohibiting governments from conveying property seized through condemnation proceedings to private developers.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
29 Dec. 2025
-
The film has been given a handsome production, with Hytner deftly conveying the period setting and eliciting excellent performances from the large ensemble.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Dec. 2025
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
-
The Broncos offered video evidence showing Oden, a senior forward, committing five fouls — and referee David Walker making the wrong hand signal to the official scorer on his third, assigning it to sophomore forward Pharaoh Compton instead.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Along the way, fans began assigning the corgi her own superstar nickname.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
6 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
Verb
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The former four-star recruit originally picked Ole Miss before transferring to South Carolina before the 2023 season.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
6 Jan. 2026
-
The 5-foot-11, 195-pound Smothers is a former four-star recruit who started his career at Oklahoma before transferring to NC State before the 2024 season.—
Sam Khan Jr,
New York Times,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Alienating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alienating. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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