alienate
[eyl-yuh-neyt, ey-lee-uh-]
- to make indifferent or hostile: By refusing to get a job, he has alienated his entire family.
- to cause to be withdrawn or isolated from the objective world: Bullying alienates already shy students from their classmates.
- to turn away; transfer or divert: to alienate funds from their intended purpose.
- Law. to transfer or convey, as title, property, or other right, to another: to alienate lands.
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Origin of alienate
Synonyms
See more synonyms for alienate on Thesaurus.com1. See estrange.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for alienated
Contemporary Examples
The trouble was, he alienated Pope Pius VI and Pius VII—the latter he actually arrested.
I knew that there was a God, but I was alienated by organized religion, especially the guilt part of it.
When Gary Wright Met George Harrison: Dream Weaver, John and Yoko, and MoreGary Wright
September 29, 2014
The senator has alienated many Tea Partiers and has yet to reach out to bridge the gap, Hofstra said.
Yet, 2016 may be different, as the GOP becomes ever more evangelical, Southern, blue collar, and alienated.
Along the way, Munoz alienated some of her biggest allies in the reform movement.
Historical Examples
I know not any of the number to be alienated from the true faith.
The Rise of the Hugenots, Vol. 1 (of 2)Henry Martyn Baird
Little by little they have been alienated from the institutions of the Republic.
The Blot on the Kaiser's 'ScutcheonNewell Dwight Hillis
One after another he had alienated or betrayed every commander under whom he had served.
Under FireCharles King
She was helplessly conscious of the result: her husband was alienated from her.
RomolaGeorge Eliot
This alienated first all competent judges, and at last the masses.
FolkwaysWilliam Graham Sumner
alienate
- to cause (a friend, sympathizer, etc) to become indifferent, unfriendly, or hostile; estrange
- to turn away; divertto alienate the affections of a person
- law to transfer the ownership of (property, title, etc) to another person
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for alienated
alienate
v.
1540s, "make estranged" (in feelings or affections), from Latin alienatus, past participle of alienare "to make another's, estrange," from alienus "of or belonging to another person or place," from alius "(an)other" (see alias (adv.)). Related: Alienated; alienating.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper