alienate

[ ey-lee-uh-neyt, eyl-yuh- ]

verb (used with object)

, al·ien·at·ed, al·ien·at·ing.

1. to make indifferent or hostile:

   By refusing to get a job, he has alienated his entire family.

2. to cause to be withdrawn or isolated from the objective world:

   Bullying alienates already shy students from their classmates.

3. to turn away; transfer or divert:

   to alienate funds from their intended purpose.

4. Law. to transfer or convey, as title, property, or other right, to another:

   to alienate lands.

alienate

/ ˈeɪlɪə-; ˈeɪljəˌneɪt /

verb

1. to cause (a friend, sympathizer, etc) to become indifferent, unfriendly, or hostile; estrange
2. to turn away; divert

   to alienate the affections of a person

3. law to transfer the ownership of (property, title, etc) to another person

Derived Forms

• ˈalienˌator, noun

Other Words From

• al·ien·a·tor noun
• non·al·ien·at·ing adjective
• re·al·ien·ate verb (used with object) realienated realienating
• un·al·ien·at·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of alienate¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin aliēnātus (past participle of aliēnāre “to transfer by sale, estrange”), equivalent to aliēn(us) “belonging to another, another's, foreign, alien ” + -ātus -ate ¹

Synonym Study

See estrange.

Example Sentences

That essential element of his identity is presented as merely neutral fact, rather than the alienating circumstance it no doubt was.

From Los Angeles Times

“While there are differences among folks, we can build communities that reflect and honor and celebrate those differences instead of alienating and perpetuating historical wrongs.”

From Los Angeles Times

“We would alienate much of our population, much of our community, by doing anything like that. So it would make no sense for us to do that.”

From Los Angeles Times

Getting seasoned operagoer Phillip to open up is the goal, so Elsbeth needs to look out of place without alienating the suspect.

From Los Angeles Times

There is a risk Trump could alienate US allies in Asia, in the way he did during his last presidency.

From BBC

Related Words

• disaffect
• divide
• estrange
• separate
• turn off