estrange

[ ih-streynj ]

See synonyms for estrange on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),es·tranged, es·trang·ing.

to turn away in feeling or affection; make unfriendly or hostile; alienate the affections of: Their quarrel estranged the two friends.
to remove to or keep at a distance: The necessity for traveling on business has estranged him from his family.

to divert from the original use or possessor.

Origin of estrange

First recorded in 1475–85; from Middle French, Old French estranger; cognate with Portuguese estranhar, Spanish estrañar, Italian straniare, from Medieval Latin extrāneāre “to treat as a stranger,” derivative of Latin extrāneus “external, foreign, strange”; see extraneous

synonym study For estrange

Estrange, alienate, disaffect share the sense of causing (someone) to turn away from a previously held state of affection, comradeship, or allegiance. Estrange often implies replacement of love or belonging by apathy or hostility: erstwhile lovers estranged by a misunderstanding. Alienate often calls attention to the cause of antagonism or separation: His inconsiderate behavior alienated both friends and family. Disaffect usually refers to relationships involving allegiance or loyalty rather than love or affection: disaffected workers, demoralized by ill-considered management policies.

Other words from estrange

es·trange·ment, noun
es·trang·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use estrange in a sentence

Now, instead of estranging Rosie utterly with careless bravado, she strove to win her understanding.
The Rosie World | Parker Fillmore
The Bosnian annexation had the further effect of estranging Italy, which had hitherto been his ally.
The Outline of History: Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind | Herbert George Wells
Very soon she had to face the unpleasant fact that by pressing for woman suffrage now, she was estranging many abolitionists.
Susan B. Anthony | Alma Lutz
Left to themselves, with the body between them, father and son fell into a silence, instinct with the dread of estranging speech.
The Clarion | Samuel Hopkins Adams
I didn't want to find myself the cause of estranging another mother from her son.
The Vanity Girl | Compton Mackenzie

British Dictionary definitions for estrange

estrange

/ (ɪˈstreɪndʒ) /

verb(tr)

(usually passive often foll by from) to separate and live apart from (one's spouse): he is estranged from his wife
(usually passive often foll by from) to antagonize or lose the affection of (someone previously friendly); alienate

Origin of estrange

C15: from Old French estranger, from Late Latin extrāneāre to treat as a stranger, from Latin extrāneus foreign; see strange

Derived forms of estrange

estrangement, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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