denaturalize
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to deprive of proper or true nature; make unnatural.
-
to deprive of the rights and privileges of citizenship or of naturalization.
verb
-
to deprive of nationality
-
to make unnatural
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of denaturalize
First recorded in 1790–1800; de- + naturalize
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The federal government has to meet a high burden of proof when attempting to denaturalize a citizen, plus it can only proceed by a judicial order.
From Slate • Apr. 16, 2025
As attorney general, Mr. Civiletti successfully argued before the Supreme Court for the government’s right to denaturalize Nazi war criminals.
From New York Times • Oct. 17, 2022
What I want to do by putting “the Internet” in quotation marks is to denaturalize some of the assumptions we make for granted—for those assumptions have consequences.
From Slate • Apr. 3, 2013
Demjanjuk's legal troubles began in 1977, when the Government initiated a proceeding to denaturalize him.
From Time • Mar. 22, 2012
The latter wished to denaturalize themselves, and become as though they were foreigners even on their native soil; the former remained firm and faithful to their country and to each other.
From Holland The History of the Netherlands by Grattan, Thomas Colley
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
