Alienate Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary (original) (raw)

Britannica Dictionary definition of ALIENATE

[+ object]

1

:

to make (someone) unfriendly

:

to cause (someone) to stop being friendly, helpful, etc., towards you

• He alienated most of his colleagues with his bad temper.
• Her position on this issue has alienated many former supporters.

2

:

to cause (someone) to feel that she or he no longer belongs in a particular group, society, etc.

— + from

• Her position on this issue has alienated her from many voters.
• His drug problems have alienated him from his parents.

— alienated

adjective

[more alienated; most alienated]

• He feels very alienated from his parents.
• alienated young people [=young people who do not feel that they have a part in society]

— alienation

/ˌeɪlijəˈneɪʃən/

noun

[noncount]

• Her position on this issue has caused the alienation of many former supporters.
• His alienation from his parents stems from his drug problems.
• She has struggled with feelings of loneliness and alienation for much of her adult life.