alienate

verb

alien·​ate ˈā-lē-ə-ˌnāt How to pronounce alienate (audio)
ˈāl-yə-
alienated; alienating

transitive verb

1
: to cause to be estranged : to make unfriendly, hostile, or indifferent especially where attachment formerly existed
He alienated most of his colleagues with his bad temper.
Her position on this issue has alienated many former supporters.
2
: to convey or transfer (something, such as property or a right) usually by a specific act rather than the due course of law
3
: to cause to be withdrawn or diverted
alienate capital from its natural channels
alienator noun
Choose the Right Synonym for alienate

estrange, alienate, disaffect mean to cause one to break a bond of affection or loyalty.

estrange implies the development of indifference or hostility with consequent separation or divorcement.

his estranged wife

alienate may or may not suggest separation but always implies loss of affection or interest.

managed to alienate all his coworkers

disaffect refers especially to those from whom loyalty is expected and stresses the effects (such as rebellion or discontent) of alienation without actual separation.

troops disaffected by hunger

Examples of alienate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In an industry that runs on relationships with talent, the decision from WBD execs, whose bonuses are tied to free cash flow and debt reduction, alienated some creators. Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Mar. 2024 There’s no way to grow by a factor of five, of course, without alienating some loyal diehards. Paresh Dave, WIRED, 14 Mar. 2024 The war in Gaza has alienated important parts of Mr. Biden’s winning 2020 coalition, including young voters, progressives and some Black voters. Reid J. Epstein, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2024 And while grill makers offer plenty of accessories to boost revenues between big purchases, from pizza stones to specialty pellets or charcoal, the manufacturer’s dream is to expand the audience without alienating the existing customer base. Chris Morris, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2024 This approach is contrasted sharply with Quest Pro’s goal of creating a fully immersive virtual environment, which, while technologically impressive, may alienate users who prefer a connection to their physical world. Nate Lorenzen, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 Navalny brought Russians alienated by Russian politics together and empowered them. Regina Smyth, The Conversation, 16 Feb. 2024 In adding these features to new grills, though, the company wants to be careful not to alienate current loyal users. Chris Morris, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2024 Biden has to thread a careful line, so as to not alienate core segments of the Democratic coalition — Jewish voters, young people and people of color who are key to his reelection effort. Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'alienate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin aliēnātus, past participle of aliēnāre "to transfer (goods, property) to another, lose possession of, render hostile, estrange," verbal derivative of aliēnus "not one's own, of others, foreign, strange" — more at alien entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of alienate was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near alienate

Cite this Entry

“Alienate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alienate. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

alienate

verb
alien·​ate ˈā-lē-ə-ˌnāt How to pronounce alienate (audio)
ˈāl-yə-ˌnāt
alienated; alienating
1
: to transfer (as a title, property, or right) to another
2
: to cause (one who used to be friendly or loyal) to become unfriendly or disloyal

Medical Definition

alienate

transitive verb
alienated; alienating
: to make unfriendly, hostile, or indifferent where attachment formerly existed

Legal Definition

alienate

transitive verb
alien·​ate ˈā-lē-ə-ˌnāt How to pronounce alienate (audio)
alienated; alienating
: to give away or sell (property or a property right) to another
will not sell, transfer, assign, hypothecate or otherwise alienate any of his voting sharesStrickland v. Rahaim, 549 So. 2d 58 (1989)
compare devise
Etymology

Latin alienare, from alienus not one's own

More from Merriam-Webster on alienate

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