alienation
noun
alien·ation
| \ ˌā-lē-ə-ˈnā-shən
, ˌāl-yə-\
, ˌāl-yə-\
Definition of alienation
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
2
: a conveyance of property to another
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Synonyms & Antonyms for alienation
Synonyms
disaffection, disgruntlement, estrangement, souring
Antonyms
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Examples of alienation in a Sentence
after years of alienation from her family, she became reconciled with them when her father fell ill
Recent Examples on the Web
Too much emphasis on the self can lead to obnoxious egotism, or desperate loneliness or alienation and paranoia. — Michael Dirda, Washington Post, "What the ‘Resistance Library’ shows us about America’s struggles today," 28 Aug. 2019 An initial sense of shock over the revocation of Article 370 is giving way to alienation and anger. — Riyaz Wani, Quartz India, "After three weeks of lockdown, this is what Kashmir looks like," 22 Aug. 2019 Although the painting’s lone subject, a blonde woman clad in a red dress and black heels, looks directly at the viewer, her gaze seems to elude, reinforcing the sense of alienation endemic to the artist’s oeuvre. — Meilan Solly, Smithsonian, "Thanks to the Hopper Hotel Experience, You Can Now Spend a Night at the Museum," 16 Aug. 2019 For him, the risk of constant documentation is alienation: a sense that our bodies are generating still moments rather than constant movement. — Nausicaa Renner, The New Yorker, "How Social Media Shapes Our Identity," 8 Aug. 2019 The process of alienation and disengagement from school often takes root at the beginning of middle school. — Belinda Luscombe, Time, "These Academics Spent $1.35 To Make Middle School Less Awful. Here's How.," 30 July 2019 Crucial questions linger, however, and the girl is left reeling between abandonment and alienation. — John Domini, Dallas News, "An Italian teenager meets the family she didn't know existed in 'A Girl Returned'," 1 July 2019 Bill Callahan has written and recorded 15 albums since 1990, and one thread connecting them all has been alienation. — Mark Richardson, WSJ, "‘Shepherd in a Sheepskin Vest’ by Bill Callahan Review: An Outsider Settles Down," 11 June 2019 De Niro and director Martin Scorsese's collaborative genius produced a disturbing look at alienation, violence and misplaced hero worship. — Brian Lowry, CNN, "Essential movies of the 1970s from 'Jaws' to 'Being There'," 25 July 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'alienation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for alienation
alienation
noun
alien·ation
| \ ˌā-lē-ə-ˈnā-shən, ˌāl-yə-
\
\
Medical Definition of alienation
: a withdrawing or separation of a person or a person's affections from an object or position of former attachment
alienation…from the values of one's society and family— S. L. Halleck
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