ESTRANGEMENT Synonyms: 43 Similar and Opposite Words

estrangement

noun

Definition of estrangement

as in alienation

the loss of friendship or affection a silly quarrel that eventually resulted in a complete and lasting estrangement between the onetime friends

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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 estrangement This is the first apparent comment on the estrangement that Charli D’Amelio has given. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2026 That’s in large part due to the galvanizing performances of real-life couple Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem, for whom the film was written, bringing an electric emotional charge to scenes of both intimacy and estrangement. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026 Amid Brooklyn’s complicated estrangement from his family, he was photographed in August 2026 vacationing on a yacht in the South of France with his famous godfather and his wife, Nicola Peltz. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Sep. 2026 The ending is bittersweet, as Murakami finally reunites with his father after decades of estrangement. — Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026 Her parents divorced shortly before her second birthday, marking the beginning of her long estrangement from her father. — Imani Sumbi, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 Aug. 2026 Harry’s return home comes after years of estrangement from his closest family members. — Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026 The decision ultimately marked the beginning of their estrangement. — Sameen Chaudhry, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026 The decision marked the beginning of their estrangement — something Vogel believed would only be temporary. — Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for estrangement

Noun

The forensic expert starts to piece together the young men’s relationship and the circumstances that brought them to that fateful day, revealing a story shaped by abuse, homophobia, social alienation and despair.

— Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 8 Sep. 2026
Benegal argues the character’s alienation was never really about the West.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of alienation

Noun

White, who filed for divorce in Miami-Dade County in early January, wants to cut the cord, stat.

— Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2026
The Garden State also had the second-lowest separation and divorce rate and the second-highest share of households earning more than $75,000 annually.

— Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of divorce

Noun

Yet, a deep ideological schism remains over what victory for the Islamic Republic should look like.

— Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026
This turns into a big argument about Issa being a weird little guy, and suddenly there are multiple potential roommate schisms in the house.

— Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of schism

Noun

Advanced robotics and a rapid rollout of AI should counter the shrinking workforce, while creating enough new jobs to keep youth disaffection at bay.

— Ben Bland, semafor.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Their disaffection can create a culture of hopelessness and emotional stasis that lasts well past any economic recovery.

— Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of disaffection

Noun

Anhor The Great had so many pass breakups that counting would’ve been a fool’s errand.

— Caleb Otte, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
Unfortunately, Samir was in the middle of trying to make a grand romantic gesture when the breakup happened, which included the bros, Julia Fox and a basketball.

— Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of breakup

Noun

The extremely small separation between the two graphene systems allowed the screening effect to be much stronger than in earlier experiments.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2026
The film centers on Leo and Anne, whose relationship becomes caught in a cycle of attraction and separation as the boundaries between intimacy and dependence, care and control and presence and absence steadily begin to collapse.

— Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of separation

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estranged

estrangement

estrangements

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“Estrangement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/estrangement. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of estrangement

noun

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