disaffect

[ dis-uh-fekt ]

verb (used with object)

1. to alienate the affection, sympathy, or support of; make discontented or disloyal:

   The dictator's policies had soon disaffected the people.

disaffect

/ ˌdɪsəˈfɛkt /

verb

1. tr; often passive to cause to lose loyalty or affection; alienate

Derived Forms

• ˌdisafˈfectedly, adverb
• ˌdisafˈfectedness, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of disaffect¹

First recorded in 1615–25; dis- ¹ + affect ²

Synonym Study

See estrange.

Example Sentences

They certainly brought out disaffected members of the GOP to campaign for Kamala Harris.

From Salon

This ignores entirely the decision to move the party to the center to accommodate Liz Cheney and her small army of disaffected Republicans who had been exiled from their own party.

From Salon

In the final stretch, however, Harris made a tactical decision to again highlight the dangers of a second Trump presidency, calling the president a "fascist" and campaigning with disaffected Republicans fed up with his rhetoric.

From BBC

If the voter turnout models are wrong and more women head to the polls, or more rural residents, or more disaffected young voters - that could dramatically shift the final results.

From BBC

In their rallies, and on the airwaves, the Democrats’ response to disaffected men seems to be a dose of tough love.

From BBC

Related Words

• alienate
• antagonize
• repel