estrange

verb

es·​trange i-ˈstrānj How to pronounce estrange (audio)
estranged; estranging
Synonyms of estrangenext

transitive verb

1
: to arouse especially mutual enmity or indifference in (someone) where there had formerly been love, affection, or friendliness : alienate
John's excesses gradually estranged him from his mother …— Philip Norman
She became estranged from her family.
2
: to remove from customary environment or associations
The first words spoken were not those of one becoming estranged from this world, and already permitted to stray at times into realms foreign to the living.— Charlotte Brontë
estrangement
i-ˈstrānj-mənt How to pronounce estrange (audio)
noun
her estrangement from her family
estranger noun

Synonyms

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Choose the Right Synonym for estrange

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 estrange in a Sentence

she estranged several of her coworkers when she let her promotion go to her head
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Feuding families, a fierce food competition show, and estranged family members who may or may not be ready to mend fences. — Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 30 Mar. 2025 Listen to this article Dear Eric: My brother and I were estranged for many years at his insistence. — R. Eric Thomas, The Denver Post, 20 Mar. 2025 Marie Helene named the site’s nurse as her next of kin when she was hospitalized and estranged from her children. — Ian Willms, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025 The movie jumps forward from 1999 to the present, with an adult Hal, now played by Theo James, estranged from both his brother and his son, Petey (Colin O’Brien). — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for estrange

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French estrangir, estranger, from Medieval Latin extraneare, from Latin extraneus strange — more at strange entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

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

Rhymes for estrange

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Browse Nearby Words

estral cycle
estrange
estranged
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Cite this Entry

“Estrange.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/estrange. Accessed 6 Apr. 2025.

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Kids Definition

estrange

verb
es·​trange is-ˈtrānj How to pronounce estrange (audio)
estranged; estranging
: to cause to change from friendly or loving to unfriendly or uncaring : alienate
estranged from their children
estrangement
-mənt How to pronounce estrange (audio)
noun

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