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 to cause to be withdrawn or isolated from the objective world.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

The self-consciousness of his expression can be alienating, even arch.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

They alienate young men, not just from women but also from each other, nurturing a worldview that sees all relationships as determined by hierarchy and domination.

Read more on Salon

For all the talk of this city being alienating and people being unwilling to commute, I have witnessed something different.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Stretching the formula would risk alienating Call of Duty's audience.

Read more on Barron's

Mercenary groups from Russia have supported Col Goïta's government since French and UN troops left, and further dependence could draw Mali further into Moscow's sphere of influence, potentially alienating Western aid and investment.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• disaffect 
• divide 
• estrange 
• separate 
• turn off