Alienate Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary (2024)

FAQs

Alienate Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary? ›

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.

1. : to cause to be estranged : to make unfriendly, hostile, or indifferent especially where attachment formerly existed. He alienated most of his colleagues with his bad temper. Her position on this issue has alienated many former supporters.

Alienation occurs when a person withdraws or becomes isolated from their environment or from other people. People who show symptoms of alienation will often reject loved ones or society. They may also show feelings of distance and estrangement, including from their own emotions.

1. : a withdrawing or separation of a person or a person's affections from an object or position of former attachment : estrangement. alienation … from the values of one's society and family S. L. Halleck.

The words disaffect and estrange are common synonyms of alienate. While all three words mean "to cause one to break a bond of affection or loyalty," alienate may or may not suggest separation but always implies loss of affection or interest.

A double positive and negative sense of alienation is broadly shown in the spiritual beliefs referred to as Gnosticism. Alienation also had a particular legal-political meaning since as early as Ancient Roman times, where to alienate property (alienato) is to transfer ownership of it to someone else.

In context, it means to be shut out of fellowship and intimacy with God; to be estranged from life in him. We observe alienation from God first demonstrated in Genesis 3, when Adam and Eve hid from God because of their total rebellion towards him (sin)(Gen. 3:8).

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

A parent might instill fear or disrespect in the child towards the other parent. An example is a mother making exaggerated claims about the father's behavior, leading the child to fear staying with him.

to cause someone or a group of people to stop supporting and agreeing with you: All these changes to the newspaper have alienated its traditional readers. to make someone feel that they are different and not part of a group: Disagreements can alienate teenagers from their families.

Which is the best synonym for alienation? ›

Adolescents may experience alienation due to various factors, such as struggling with identity formation, feeling misunderstood or not accepted by peers, or facing conflicts between their own values and societal expectations.

In social psychology, alienation refers to a sense of self-estrangement, an absence of social support, or meaningful social connectedness. ¹. The sense of alienation generally consists of three dimensions: social isolation, powerlessness, and normlessness.

Verb. ▲ Opposite of to cause to feel less close, friendly or caring. reconcile. unite.

Self-estrangement appears in many adolescents with low self-esteem. They may feel bored of life and feel like there is no purpose. Without a purpose, these adolescents may feel as if no one around them understands them, and they may alienate themselves.

Estrangement is an active choice made by the person pulling away, typically due to a strained relationship in which they no longer wish to participate. Parental alienation occurs when one parent seeks to drive a wedge between their child and their child's other parent.

The behaviors and attitudes of an alienated child often include the following: Freely and persistently expressing negative feelings about the rejected parent, such as anger, hatred, or fear, that are disproportionate to the circ*mstances and the actions of the rejected parent.

Thought Alienation/Thought Broadcasting: Is anything interfering with your thinking. Some people feel as if thoughts are being put into their heads and they are not their own. Or, that your thoughts are broadcast out loud so that other people can hear what you are thinking.