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View synonyms for

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 to cause to be withdrawn or isolated from the objective world: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
“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
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Derived Forms

  • ˈˌٴǰ, noun
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Other Word Forms

  • ···ٴǰ noun
  • ԴDz····Բ adjective
  • ···ٱ verb (used with object) realienated realienating
  • ܲ····Բ adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of alienate1

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin ŧٳܲ (past participle of ŧ “to transfer by sale, estrange”), equivalent to ŧ(ܲ) “belonging to another, another's, foreign, alien ” + -ٳܲ -ate 1
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Synonym Study

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

"Just Stop Oil's zealotry has probably set back their cause by alienating the law-abiding majority."

From

I was full of hope for a fresh start but it was like reliving that lonely, alienating experience all over again.

From

Putting plate readers in Cheviot Hills seems designed to further alienate wealthy communities from Blacks and Latinos, according to Guerra.

From

Forget that, and Amazon risks alienating a fervent Bond fan base.

From

But it risks alienating allies, while economists warn it could raise prices and threaten a global recession.

From

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Alien and Sedition Actsalienated