Alienate — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /ˈā-lē-ə-ˌnāt/ alien·ate

Meaning & Definition of Alienate

Alienate (verb)

  1. to cause to be estranged, to make unfriendly, hostile, or indifferent especially where attachment formerly existed
  2. to convey or transfer (something, such as property or a right) usually by a specific act (as a sale) rather than the due course of law (as by descent)
  3. to cause to be withdrawn or diverted

Alienate (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to cause to change from friendly or loving to unfriendly or uncaring

    "her changed position on the issue surprised and alienated many of her supporters"

    similar: alien, disaffect, disgruntle, estrange, sour
    related: antagonize, embitter, envenom, aggravate, anger, enrage, incense, inflame, infuriate, madden, outrage, rankle, rile, roil, break up, dissociate, disunite, divide, separate, sever, split, sunder, uncouple, unlink, unyoke, disappoint, disenchant, disillusion, annoy, bother, bug, chafe, exasperate, gall, grate, irk, irritate, nettle, peeve, pique, vex
    opposite: reconcile
    near: endear, ingratiate, appease, conciliate, disarm, mollify, pacify, placate, propitiate

  2. to give over the legal possession or ownership of

    "landowners have a right to alienate their right of ownership—in other words, they can sell the land if they want to"

    similar: alien, assign, cede, convey, deed, make over, transfer, dispose of
    related: bequeath, hand down, leave, pass (down), will, bestow, commend, commit, confer, contribute, deliver, donate, grant, hand over, move, pass, present, release, relinquish, surrender, transmit, turn in, turn over, vest, yield, consign, entrust, trust, lease, lend, let (chiefly British), loan, rent
    near: expropriate

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Alienate

The most common words with a similar meaning to Alienate:

alien, disaffect, disgruntle, estrange, sour, assign, cede, convey, deed, make over, transfer, dispose of

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Alienate

Words with the opposite meaning of Alienate:

reconcile

Related Words for Alienate

antagonize, embitter, envenom, aggravate, anger, enrage, incense, inflame, infuriate, madden, outrage, rankle, rile, roil, break up, dissociate, disunite, divide, separate, sever, split, sunder, uncouple, unlink, unyoke, disappoint, disenchant, disillusion, annoy, bother

Near Antonyms of Alienate

endear, ingratiate, appease, conciliate, disarm, mollify, pacify, placate, propitiate, expropriate

Word Forms of Alienate

Inflections: alienated, alienating

Derived words: alienator (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Alienate

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" alien:1

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Alienate

Frequently Asked Questions about Alienate

What does "Alienate" mean?

"Alienate" means to cause to be estranged, to make unfriendly, hostile, or indifferent especially where attachment formerly existed. As a verb, it is defined as: to cause to be estranged, to make unfriendly, hostile, or indifferent especially where attachment formerly existed. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Alienate"?

Other words for "Alienate" include alien, disaffect, disgruntle, estrange, sour, assign, cede and convey. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Alienate" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Alienate"?

There are 86 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Alienate". Common alternatives include alien, disaffect, disgruntle, estrange, sour, assign, cede, convey, deed and make over.

What is the opposite of "Alienate"?

Antonyms of "Alienate" include reconcile. Near antonyms include endear, ingratiate, appease and conciliate.

How do you use "Alienate" in a sentence?

Examples of "Alienate" in a sentence: "her changed position on the issue surprised and alienated many of her supporters"; "landowners have a right to alienate their right of ownership—in other words, they can sell the land if they want to".

Is "Alienate" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Alienate" is a verb.

Is "Alienate" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Alienate" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Alienate"?

"Alienate" is pronounced /ˈā-lē-ə-ˌnāt/ and divided into syllables as alien·ate.