Definition of disaffectnext

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb disaffect contrast with its synonyms?

The words alienate and estrange are common synonyms of disaffect. While all three words mean "to cause one to break a bond of affection or loyalty," disaffect refers especially to those from whom loyalty is expected and stresses the effects (such as rebellion or discontent) of alienation without actual separation.

troops disaffected by hunger

When is alienate a more appropriate choice than disaffect?

While in some cases nearly identical to disaffect, alienate may or may not suggest separation but always implies loss of affection or interest.

managed to alienate all his coworkers

When can estrange be used instead of disaffect?

The words estrange and disaffect can be used in similar contexts, but estrange implies the development of indifference or hostility with consequent separation or divorcement.

his estranged wife

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 disaffect Sanders-Warren backers see Mr. Trump as a symptom of deeper woes, of the desperation of long-struggling voters disaffected by the recent economic prescriptions of both parties. Jacob M. Schlesinger, WSJ, 30 Jan. 2020 Yang has honed in on a message of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, touted the need for a nationwide universal basic income and boasted about his ability to reach voters who have become disaffected by national politics. Rebecca Morin, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2019 Dina Litovsky for The New York Times Here’s at least one sign that some young adults are disaffected with dating apps. Jennifer Miller, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2019 And that adds to its appeal for supporters disaffected from the moneyed elites who run the former British colony, organizers say. Christopher Bodeen, chicagotribune.com, 18 June 2019 See All Example Sentences for disaffect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disaffect
Verb
  • Separate blockades from haulers and farmers angered by the rising diesel prices have also shut down large swathes of the country’s highways, causing five days of disruption.
    Dalia Abdelwahab, CNN Money, 11 Apr. 2026
  • The mayor's threat to raise property taxes unless Albany agrees to tax the rich angered City Council Speaker Julie Menin.
    Marcia Kramer, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Dara Shikoh was designated as a successor to the Mughal throne by Shah Jahan, which displeased the ambitious Aurangzeb.
    Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
  • The epitome of narcissism, demeaning and denigrating others upon their deaths (John McCain, Rob Reiner) who’ve displeased him is nothing new, but the Mueller post sinks to a new low.
    Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 30 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • That this stalemate has dragged on this long has infuriated Levin, who considers keeping the government functioning a basic tenet of Congress’s job.
    Paula Mejía, New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2026
  • The gap between what Greg and I did—and, more importantly, thought about—became a gigantic infuriating cavern for me.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Teams routinely get annoyed with media that spends time on this sort of thing, but there is no better sales tactic than drama.
    Mac Engel April 16, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Apr. 2026
  • But now Lamar is doing press annoyed with me.
    Bethy Squires, Vulture, 15 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Demand spiked during the Covid-19 pandemic, leading to price hikes that eventually alienated customers.
    Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 15 Apr. 2026
  • Denim companies marketed to young people, but were cautious not to alienate other consumers.
    Jack Armstrong, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • But that shift also dissatisfied school leaders, provoking protests ahead of a Jan. 20 Jefferson County Board of Education meeting.
    Kathryn Muchnick, Louisville Courier Journal, 20 Feb. 2026
  • That means there’s likely ample opportunities for mid-career professionals dissatisfied with the current state of their careers to expand their responsibilities in-house, and those chances may be best identified by superiors or colleagues in human resources.
    Metro Creative Services, Boston Herald, 9 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Its residents have long been estranged from the rest of their state and, especially, the Democratic leadership in Santa Fe, the state capital.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
  • Vergata, who is believed to have been working as an escort in Manhattan at the time of her disappearance on Valentine’s Day 1996, struggled with addiction and was estranged from her family.
    Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The camp's plan to reopen part of the campus this summer and host nearly 900 girls has outraged the families of the girls killed.
    CBS News, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
  • On Day 1 of the truce, and in the days since, Israel has stepped up attacks against Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy, in Lebanon, outraging Iran and leading to accusations the terms had been breached.
    Justin Fishel, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Disaffect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disaffect. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.

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