1
as in to infuriate
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to cede
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of alienate
Rubio has alienated many in the foreign-policy world.
—
David Remnick, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
Trump’s embrace of a neo-imperialist foreign policy is likely to further alienate those anti-system voters.
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 12 Jan. 2026
For an entire decade now, Democrats have consistently alienated allies — with devastating results.
—Matt K. Lewis, Twin Cities, 7 Jan. 2026
Holding the two halves together builds something that neither half could make alone, and treating either as infallible turns them into engines for manufacturing enemies and alienating friends.
—Robert T.f. Downes, Hartford Courant, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for alienate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alienate
Verb
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The development appears to have infuriated the center’s interim president, MAGA loyalist Richard Grenell.—
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Trump’s blunt warnings have infuriated the country’s leaders, who have since doubled down on crushing the protests.—
Verb
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Cooper had asked comedian (and friend, of course) Shane Gillis for early notes, and Gillis suggested that Arnett start going onstage for live sets, eventually ceding 10 minutes of his own headlining show in Austin.—
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In this case, Davis is more amused than embarrassed, and soon cedes the new man to Winnie.—
Verb
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With an economy that is persistently reliant on crude, pursuing policies that raise energy costs risks angering constituents.—
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The board instead approved a resolution to reexamine current campus spaces, angering some parents.—
Verb
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As always, the bob is a cut that conveys power, confidence, and an effortless cool factor.—
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Fussell, the son of historians who traveled the Deep South before settling in North Carolina, conveys a sense of wonder that lends a cinematic quality to his reimaginings of old tunes.—
Verb
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The structure is a bit tricksier, flipping between the present — which finds our two inevitable lovers estranged and in their early thirties — and a staggered series of flashbacks catching up to it.—
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After a disastrous stint abroad leaves them estranged, the two don’t speak for years — until Poppy asks Alex to join her on one last jaunt.—
Verb
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The supply issue partly reflects years of underbuilding after the 2008 financial crisis, as well as the reluctance of homeowners who locked in ultra-low mortgage rates during the ensuing recession to relinquish their properties.—
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What impresses Lanthimos most is Plemons’ willingness to relinquish control.—
Verb
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These Minneapolis people were enraged in 2020.—
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Starting over with a new coach or general manager right now takes contender off the table, and judging by the support thrown behind the head coach, would enrage Burrow in the process.—
Verb
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The remaining 14 assigned a hold or underperform rating.—
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At age 19, Woodhouse was a second lieutenant and assigned to the 332nd Fighter Group, also known as the Tuskegee Airmen.—
Cite this Entry
“Alienate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alienate. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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