estranged

1 of 2

adjective

es·​tranged i-ˈstrānjd 

: having lost former closeness and affection : in a state of alienation from a previous close or familial relationship

her estranged husband [=her husband with whom she no longer lives]

Social workers may try to resolve conflicts between estranged siblings.

—Jonathan D. Rockoff

He had taken out a life insurance policy on his estranged wife just weeks before her murder …

—David Fisher

… it's kind of shameful to admit your idea of unwinding in front of the TV is watching somebody's entire family get murdered by their greedy, estranged uncle.

—Lauren Zupkus

estranged

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of estrange

Examples of estranged in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Desperate to change, Tonya turns to her estranged mother, Wanda (Miller), who offers little concern and instead accuses her of repeating the same destructive patterns that shaped her own childhood. — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 2 Oct. 2026

In addition to familiar faces from Season 1, he’ll be joined by series newcomers Tommy Lee Jones and Betty Gilpin, who respectively play his estranged father and a public defender who enters his orbit. — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 30 Sep. 2026

Also complicating matters is the return of Lee’s estranged father, Lee Sr. — Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2026

Tommy Lee Jones has signed on for season 2 of The Lowdown, playing the estranged father of Lee (Ethan Hawke). — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1538, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing estranged

• estranged couple
• estranged husband
• estranged wife

Rhymes for estranged

• disarranged
• interchanged
• prearranged
• rearranged
• arranged
• exchanged
• unchanged
• changed
• ranged