estranged

adjective

es·​tranged i-ˈstrānjd How to pronounce estranged (audio)
: 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

Examples of estranged in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web She was last seen on Nov. 11, when security footage showed Rucker with Cory Hill, the estranged husband, CBS affiliate WKMG-TV reported. Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 20 Nov. 2023 Rucker was last seen leaving her home with her estranged husband, identified as Cory Hill by FOX 35. Pilar Arias, Fox News, 19 Nov. 2023 Dean McDermott is opening up about his relationship with estranged wife Tori Spelling's mom Candy Spelling. Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 16 Nov. 2023 The estranged wife of Gilgo Beach, New York, murder suspect Rex Heuermann attended one of his court appearances for the first time on Wednesday. Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 15 Nov. 2023 Two years after Ruth Glenn was shot in the head by her estranged husband, Congress passed a law prohibiting people facing domestic violence restraining orders from having guns. Mark Sherman and Lindsay Whitehurst, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 Nov. 2023 Mary Trump, the former president’s estranged niece, doesn’t see the children’s testimony helping their father. Ellie Quinlan Houghtaling, The New Republic, 3 Nov. 2023 Hulsey was also the selling agent on the home in 2021, when the pop star’s estranged father, Jamie Spears, listed it for less than $300,000. Rachel Kurzius, Washington Post, 3 Nov. 2023 Unaware of Serena and Tripp’s affair, Lily invites him and his (soon-to-be estranged) wife Maureen to dinner. Abrigail Williams, Vogue, 11 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'estranged.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1538, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of estranged was in 1538

Dictionary Entries Near estranged

Cite this Entry

“Estranged.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/estranged. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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