estrange

[ ih-streynj ]

verb (used with object)

, es·tranged, es·trang·ing.

1. to turn away in feeling or affection; make unfriendly or hostile; alienate the affections of:

   Their quarrel estranged the two friends.

2. to remove to or keep at a distance:

   The necessity for traveling on business has estranged him from his family.

3. to divert from the original use or possessor.

estrange

/ ɪˈstreɪndʒ /

verb

1. usually passiveoften foll byfrom to separate and live apart from (one's spouse)

   he is estranged from his wife

2. usually passiveoften foll byfrom to antagonize or lose the affection of (someone previously friendly); alienate

Derived Forms

• esˈtrangement, noun

Other Words From

• es·trange·ment noun
• es·trang·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of estrange¹

First recorded in 1475–85; from Middle French, Old French estranger; cognate with Portuguese estranhar, Spanish estrañar, Italian straniare, from Medieval Latin extrāneāre “to treat as a stranger,” derivative of Latin extrāneus “external, foreign, strange”; extraneous

Word History and Origins

Origin of estrange¹

C15: from Old French estranger, from Late Latin extrāneāre to treat as a stranger, from Latin extrāneus foreign; see strange

Synonym Study

Estrange, alienate, disaffect share the sense of causing (someone) to turn away from a previously held state of affection, comradeship, or allegiance. Estrange often implies replacement of love or belonging by apathy or hostility: erstwhile lovers estranged by a misunderstanding. Alienate often calls attention to the cause of antagonism or separation: His inconsiderate behavior alienated both friends and family. Disaffect usually refers to relationships involving allegiance or loyalty rather than love or affection: disaffected workers, demoralized by ill-considered management policies.

Example Sentences

Qantas announced in May that the non-executive director Michael L’Estrange will retire at this year’s AGM on Nov 3.

From Reuters

Novey transports us toward two reckonings: what exactly happened to estrange the women and, later, how Leah will respond to Jean’s legacy of sculptures.

From Washington Post

The authorities also initially hesitated to impose a lockdown in the epicenter of the outbreak, in central Uganda, fearing that any restrictions would adversely affect the economy and estrange a population already angry about previous strict Covid shutdowns.

From New York Times

García's film is about fathers and sons, and it certainly tackles the thorniness that can estrange children and their parents.

From Salon

But France and Germany warned in a joint statement that "far-reaching restrictions" could feed Russia's narrative as a victim and estrange future generations of Russians.

From BBC

Related Words

• alienate
• divorce