SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
alienate
verb
To make someone feel separated, unwelcome, or no longer sympathetic.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Create emotional distance
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topIsolate describes separation; alienate additionally suggests lost sympathy or belonging.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See alienate in use
An insulting introduction could alienate the audience before the argument began.
At an imaginary design studio, Cam tried to ingratiate himself with the new team leader by praising every suggestion she made. He began to belittle a colleague's alternative sketches, calling them little doodles even when they addressed a real design problem. The remarks threatened to alienate people whose cooperation he would need later.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license