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 to cause to be withdrawn or isolated from the objective world.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

A musician being filmed for a documentary wouldn’t want to alienate the fans that have been an integral part of their success, lest they risk damaging their brand.

From Salon

At the same time, to put it mildly, the party can hardly afford to further alienate its base.

From Salon

As the Democratic Party searches for direction in the post-2024 landscape, its leaders seem bent on alienating their own base over Gaza.

From Los Angeles Times

Musk is reportedly “reluctant to alienate powerful Republicans” by starting his party, hoping to stay in the good graces of the Republican Party.

From Salon

“I don’t understand why you would alienate one particular group. I’m not saying you have to throw your support or whatever, but just do what’s funny.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• disaffect 
• divide 
• estrange 
• separate 
• turn off