alienate

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

verb (used with object)

alienated, alienating 

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 to cause to be withdrawn or isolated from the objective world.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

Other Word Forms

• alienator noun
• nonalienating adjective
• realienate verb (used with object)
• unalienating 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

In the episode, Scotty Bristol is portrayed as a demanding, abrasive boss who alienates his writers.

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He's in danger of alienating the fans going after them like that.

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Implementing the agreement is likely to alienate his right-wing allies in the government, including extremist figures such as Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who has called for Gaza to be emptied of Palestinians.

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Some employers are trying to bring workers together without alienating or uprooting them.

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Similarly, do what you want with Bud Light and Cracker Barrel, but you’re the one alienating and disaffecting an entire swath of customers.

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Related Words

• disaffect 
• divide 
• estrange 
• separate 
• turn off