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
Andy Andersen, Vulture, 19 June 2026
As the lens follows Dua, often up close and from behind, this mode of expression proves alternately absorbing and alienating.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 13 May 2026
Distracted balances its celeb soiree with Southern California’s sinister edge, the malaise and monotony that can make sunny days so alienating.
—Daniel Felsenthal, Pitchfork, 7 Apr. 2026
The move followed public pressure and criticism regarding Mamdani’s past rhetoric concerning Israel, which some Jewish community members find deeply offensive and alienating.
—Staff, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2026
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
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
Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026
Espinoza agreed, stating that raising tuition was a hardship but preferable to alienating the neighborhood that had supported the JCC for 35 years.
—Morgan Rynor, CBS News, 12 June 2026
In this episode, Patricia finally stands up for herself, confronting not just the Boogeyman but also the women who have spent decades alienating her.
—Jen Chaney, Vulture, 3 June 2026
Five-figure seats—on top of lofty travel costs—risk alienating fans by paving the way for the wealthy to snap up tickets.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 2 June 2026
Failing to focus on issues that people can relate to — particularly young people with families — runs the risk of alienating some voters, Price said.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 June 2026
And Pritzker and fellow Democrats faced the familiar tension of trying to balance growing calls from the progressive left to generate more revenue to support state programs with a more centrist desire to avoid alienating business interests.
—Dan Petrella, Chicago Tribune, 1 June 2026
Weiss is betting Bilton can bring new viewers to the program without alienating its current crop of die-hards.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 1 June 2026
Support for individual data centers already approved for zoning across the county has fallen along similar lines, attracting construction unions and school systems while alienating neighbors.
—Ilana Arougheti
june 1, Kansas City Star, 1 June 2026
Adjective
Revealing Sugar’s true nature most of the way through the first season was a miscalculation of what might hook an audience into its sci-fi-noir premise, more alienating (no pun intended) than inviting to be sure.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 19 June 2026
As the lens follows Dua, often up close and from behind, this mode of expression proves alternately absorbing and alienating.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 13 May 2026
Distracted balances its celeb soiree with Southern California’s sinister edge, the malaise and monotony that can make sunny days so alienating.
—Daniel Felsenthal, Pitchfork, 7 Apr. 2026
The move followed public pressure and criticism regarding Mamdani’s past rhetoric concerning Israel, which some Jewish community members find deeply offensive and alienating.
—Staff, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2026
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
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
Verb
Diluting the MacBook Pro's Identity Apple’s push to a uniform user interface risks eroding the professional identity of the MacBook Pro, and risks alienating the creatives’ need for desktop levels of usability for mobile-first accessibility.
—Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026
Espinoza agreed, stating that raising tuition was a hardship but preferable to alienating the neighborhood that had supported the JCC for 35 years.
—Morgan Rynor, CBS News, 12 June 2026
In this episode, Patricia finally stands up for herself, confronting not just the Boogeyman but also the women who have spent decades alienating her.
—Jen Chaney, Vulture, 3 June 2026
Five-figure seats—on top of lofty travel costs—risk alienating fans by paving the way for the wealthy to snap up tickets.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 2 June 2026
Failing to focus on issues that people can relate to — particularly young people with families — runs the risk of alienating some voters, Price said.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 June 2026
And Pritzker and fellow Democrats faced the familiar tension of trying to balance growing calls from the progressive left to generate more revenue to support state programs with a more centrist desire to avoid alienating business interests.
—Dan Petrella, Chicago Tribune, 1 June 2026
Weiss is betting Bilton can bring new viewers to the program without alienating its current crop of die-hards.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 1 June 2026
Support for individual data centers already approved for zoning across the county has fallen along similar lines, attracting construction unions and school systems while alienating neighbors.
—Ilana Arougheti
june 1, Kansas City Star, 1 June 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
-
The university, its athletic department and anyone associated with it haven't done the Red Raiders and their quarterback any favors, either, with people like head coach Joey Maguire and billionaire booster Cody Campbell sounding off on the issue and only angering fans further.—
Austin Perry OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
12 June 2026
-
The Star, which also looked into the killing, revealed that Jordan’s associations with organized crime figures, as well as his apparent disregard for angering them, likely contributed to his death.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Eight years ago, from the same spot, Brooks Koepka elected to chip across the green into a front bunker, essentially ceding a bogey instead of risking a double, triple or worse.—
Brendan Quinn,
New York Times,
20 June 2026
-
Our research found growing concern that organizations are ceding entry-level work to AI systems while reducing opportunities for junior talent to build critical thinking, judgment and interpersonal skills over time.—
Jennie Glazer,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
Verb
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The Iranians moved their training base from Arizona to Mexico, and the team has been required to leave Los Angeles right after both matches, infuriating Ghalenoei.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 June 2026
-
If only the look from the outside-in had measured up the same way instead of descending into a fiasco as thousands faced infuriating delays getting to the stadium.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
Opposition figures, the source said, have been conveying messages to Trump’s contacts, urging him not to endorse Netanyahu or take an active part in his campaign.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
15 June 2026
-
If the Heat wind up keeping their pick by conveying to the Hornets in 2027, then the Bucks could require a pick swap here, as well.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
15 June 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
-
Dolin recommends assigning responsibilities clearly from the start.—
Lauryn Higgins,
Flow Space,
15 June 2026
-
Rather than assigning professional travel journalists to carry out the reporting and writing, the brand recruited local tastemakers and characters.—
John Wogan,
Travel + Leisure,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
Before the agreement was announced, Israeli forces struck in Beirut, enraging Trump, who has publicly expressed his fury with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
15 June 2026
-
In May 2021, after being elected to Parliament, Ben-Gvir established a makeshift office in a Palestinian neighborhood in East Jerusalem, enraging local residents.—
Avi Issacharoff,
The Atlantic,
22 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Alienating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alienating. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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