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
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
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
Jared Bernstein, The Atlantic, 25 May 2026
By saying ‘everyone can have a taste of Givenchy’ — luring in consumers who might buy one bag every five years — the brand risks alienating its most important elite clientele.
—Denni Hu, Footwear News, 25 May 2026
Hamilton died; Burr survived to become a political outcast, alienating both Pres.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 May 2026
Being outside of rigid categories, not beholden to dominant attributes, can be alienating.
—Literary Hub, 14 May 2026
Her work is the apex of the avant-garde made accessible, high-minded and emotionally charged without being alienating.
—David Harris, SPIN, 11 May 2026
Making the announcement now is a tacit acknowledgement that keeping Watkins Glen in May would have long-term negative ramifications, potentially alienating a loyal fan base that has routinely packed the venue.
—Jordan Bianchi, New York Times, 8 May 2026
Research on trans college students shows that academic, cocurricular, peer and institutional contexts shape how welcoming or alienating campus feels.
—Alex C. Lange, The Conversation, 6 May 2026
That’s Joel Schumacher’s 1993 revenge thriller about a fed-up white Angeleno who embarks on a violent odyssey across an alienating urban hellscape to reunite with his daughter.
—Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 2 May 2026
Adjective
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
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
Verb
Lawmakers who wish to tax wealth may worry about alienating the donor class, but this is an essential way to increase revenues at a time when high-end wealth accumulation appears to be accelerating.
—Jared Bernstein, The Atlantic, 25 May 2026
By saying ‘everyone can have a taste of Givenchy’ — luring in consumers who might buy one bag every five years — the brand risks alienating its most important elite clientele.
—Denni Hu, Footwear News, 25 May 2026
Hamilton died; Burr survived to become a political outcast, alienating both Pres.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 May 2026
Being outside of rigid categories, not beholden to dominant attributes, can be alienating.
—Literary Hub, 14 May 2026
Her work is the apex of the avant-garde made accessible, high-minded and emotionally charged without being alienating.
—David Harris, SPIN, 11 May 2026
Making the announcement now is a tacit acknowledgement that keeping Watkins Glen in May would have long-term negative ramifications, potentially alienating a loyal fan base that has routinely packed the venue.
—Jordan Bianchi, New York Times, 8 May 2026
Research on trans college students shows that academic, cocurricular, peer and institutional contexts shape how welcoming or alienating campus feels.
—Alex C. Lange, The Conversation, 6 May 2026
That’s Joel Schumacher’s 1993 revenge thriller about a fed-up white Angeleno who embarks on a violent odyssey across an alienating urban hellscape to reunite with his daughter.
—Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 2 May 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
-
In the biblical Tower of Babel story, humans are driven by hubris to try to create a tower tall enough to touch the sky, angering God in the process.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
25 May 2026
-
Mando has a brush with death after unwisely angering the Hutts, who task him with hunting down Jabba's son, Rotta (Jeremy Allen White).—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
Proponents of such protections should reframe the debate accordingly or risk ceding some ethical high ground.—
Adam W. Gaffney,
STAT,
18 May 2026
-
In the next wave of technological competition, the current disconnect between invention and production could mean ceding both economic value and competitive advantage.—
Eric Kutcher,
Fortune,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
The film can also feel infuriating — quite intentionally so.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
20 May 2026
-
One of the most consistently infuriating elements of Yellowstone was how Sheridan kept positioning the Duttons — a family of land barons with immense political power and a penchant for murder — as righteous underdogs.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
To call it a ‘historic’ occasion barely comes close to conveying its significance.—
Jack Pitt-Brooke,
New York Times,
25 May 2026
-
Pakistan hosted the only round of peace talks last month and has been conveying messages between the sides.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
20 May 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
-
The problem emerged when FIFA began assigning actual seat locations.—
Corey Martin,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
-
As of Friday, the market is assigning a 42% chance of no rate cuts by year-end, a 41% chance of a quarter-point hike, and a 15% chance of two hikes, according to the CME FedWatch Tool .—
Kevin Stankiewicz,Zev Fima,
CNBC,
25 May 2026
Verb
-
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
-
This is a sad story, an enraging one, a maddening one.—
Sam McDowell,
Kansas City Star,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Alienating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alienating. Accessed 28 May. 2026.
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