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
  • The two sat up front and refused to move, angering the driver, who stormed off at every stop, all through the night.
    CBS News, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
  • The policy coincided with hurricane season, and relief efforts in states such as Missouri, North Carolina, and California were delayed, angering the public and, in many cases, their Republican representatives.
    Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Speaking about Alice Sebold’s book The Lovely Bones, which Ramsay had originally been hired to adapt and direct, Ramsay recalls Sebold being displeased with her original adaptation.
    Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 6 Mar. 2026
  • Khamenei was known to be displeased when asked to referee disagreements between subordinates.
    Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 1 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Kline was frustrated and even infuriated by the military's past reluctance.
    CBS News, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
  • Kline was frustrated and even infuriated by the military's past reluctance.
    ABC News, ABC News, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Easily annoyed, the driver keeps giving punches to the center of the steering wheel.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Mar. 2026
  • The White House could also insist that while Tkachuk was annoyed, he wasn’t harmed in a way the law ought to remedy.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 9 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Jimenez describes growing up in Orange County with few Latinos around outside of her family as an alienating experience.
    Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026
  • The clash mirrors a broader fight within the Democratic Party, as progressive candidates push for a more confrontational stance toward Israel’s government and more moderate lawmakers warn against alienating pro-Israel voters and donors.
    Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • 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
  • When Iranian leaders moved to cut spending on subsidies that help Iranians afford basic essentials, thousands of protesters already dissatisfied with Iran’s political leadership finally took to the streets.
    Shooka Bidarian, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Claire’s estranged dad Jason (Steve Zahn) reluctantly signs on, and the friction between the two speaks to unresolved issues that need to be addressed.
    Randy Myers, Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2026
  • The two have been estranged since 2020, when Vivian came out as transgender.
    Kahina Sekkaï, Vanity Fair, 27 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Described by police as a gang rape, the case has added fuel to outrage in a nation where reports of violence against women have surged in recent months, sparking nationwide protests and a flurry of digital activism.
    Eléonore Hughes, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
  • This practice outraged the American colonists, who believed that general warrants enabled tyranny by empowering officers to enter homes and businesses at will.
    Amanda Cats-Baril, Twin Cities, 4 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Disaffect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disaffect. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.

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