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
  • Obama’s enthusiastic showings for both candidates was a test of whether his sway over the Democratic Party still remains after his support for Harris failed to boost her to the White House a year ago and angered black male voters who felt unfairly accused of sexism.
    Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Immigration and Customs Enforcement has angered many Americans by wearing masks while on duty, attacking peaceful protesters and arresting mostly people with no criminal record.
    Tom Roland, Billboard, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • From a religious perspective, King Edward IV passed these laws on the grounds that God was displeased by anything other than modest clothing – for the lower classes, anyway.
    Michael Watson, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Evidently, the result displeased Kinahan’s syndicate, which seemed to have expected the horse to lose.
    Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • That defeat denied Indianapolis a playoff appearance and infuriated the man in charge of it all.
    James Boyd, New York Times, 5 Nov. 2025
  • The lack of details about the operations has infuriated members of Congress on both sides of the political spectrum.
    Mike Brest, The Washington Examiner, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • The situation could be taken as concerning for Alonso, given the precedents of previous Madrid coaches who have tried to impose a certain style of play, or who otherwise annoy superstar players used to having things more their own way.
    Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025
  • One report, citing a source close to Sheridan, even claimed the writer was annoyed that Paramount sent too many of its top suits to a meeting designed to keep Sheridan onboard, arguing that Ellison had messed up by bringing more than two execs along with him.
    Josef Adalian, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Trump’s embrace of Putin also alienated many democratic allies in Europe, especially those most threatened by Russia.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
  • 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
Verb
  • The protagonist tacks between monikers, dissatisfied by what each represents.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 30 Oct. 2025
  • The event intends to create a conservative alternative for viewers dissatisfied with the football league's direction.
    Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The accusations came after Harry—who is estranged from William, Kate and his father King Charles—sent a wreath and a handwritten letter to be placed in honor of his grandfather, Prince Philip, at the Burma Star Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum in London on September 2025.
    Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Walton, who’d come out at 30 years old, was estranged from some of his.
    Katherine Laidlaw, HubSpot, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The thought that a cannabis retail store could one day open near his youth hockey training center in Stillwater has outraged LumberYard Hockey and Sports Center co-owner Lee Erickson.
    Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Naroditsky's death at age 29 outraged his supporters in the chess world, who said he'd been bullied relentlessly by Kramnik, a former world champion who has accused many players of cheating in online play.
    Jason Abbruzzese, NBC news, 22 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Disaffect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disaffect. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.

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