disaffect

American  

[dis-uh-fekt] / ˌdɪs əˈfɛkt /

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.

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disaffect British  

/ ˌdɪsəˈfɛkt /

verb

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

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Related Words

See estrange.

Other Word Forms

• disaffectedly adverb
• disaffectedness noun

Etymology

Origin of disaffect

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

Example Sentences

The manner in which children's tastes are disregarded, their feelings ignored, and their instincts violated, is enough to disaffect one with childhood.

From Gala-days by Hamilton, Gail

Gallatin warned him against the attempt that would be made to disaffect that district because none of the representatives whose seats had been vacated were residents of it.

From Albert Gallatin American Statesmen Series, Vol. XIII by Stevens, John Austin

Say it's because you quite shamelessly made motions at others while you stood there, and did your best to disaffect men who hadn't the least desire to join in your trouble-making....

From The Trail of the Hawk A Comedy of the Seriousness of Life by Lewis, Sinclair

And any and every discrimination against any class, whether on account of color, race, nativity, sex, property, culture, can but imbitter and disaffect that class, and thereby endanger the safety of the whole people.

From An Account of the Proceedings on the Trial of Susan B. Anthony, on the Charge of Illegal Voting by Anonymous

Miguel, in spite of his own lack of faith, found his wife's piety so poetical, so innocent, that it never once passed through his mind to disaffect her of it.

From Maximina by Palacio Valdés, Armando

Related Words

• alienate
• antagonize
• repel