Pronunciation: /ˈeɪ.li.əˌneɪt/

Definitions of alienate

noun the act of alienating or the state of being alienated

Example Sentences

A1 I don't want to alienate my new classmates.

A2 Her rude behavior will alienate potential customers.

B1 His constant criticism started to alienate his closest friends.

B2 The company's decision to outsource production alienated many loyal employees.

C1 The controversial policy change has the potential to alienate a large portion of the customer base.

C2 The politician's divisive rhetoric has alienated voters from both parties.

verb to cause someone to feel isolated or estranged

Example Sentences

A1 She didn't want to alienate her friends by not inviting them to the party.

A2 His rude behavior started to alienate his coworkers, causing tension in the office.

B1 The new company policy has the potential to alienate a large portion of our customer base.

B2 The controversial decision made by the CEO could alienate key stakeholders and investors.

C1 The politician's divisive rhetoric has the power to alienate voters and create further polarization.

C2 The company's unethical practices have the potential to alienate customers and damage their reputation in the long run.

Examples of alienate in a Sentence

formal The company's decision to outsource work to another country ended up alienating many of its loyal employees.

informal I didn't mean to alienate you by not inviting you to the party, it was just a small gathering.

slang Don't be so quick to alienate your friends over a silly argument.

figurative His constant negative attitude began to alienate those around him, pushing them away.

Grammatical Forms of alienate

past tense

alienated

plural

alienates

comparative

more alienated

superlative

most alienated

present tense

alienates

future tense

will alienate

perfect tense

has alienated

continuous tense

is alienating

singular

alienates

positive degree

alienate

infinitive

to alienate

gerund

alienating

participle

alienating

Origin and Evolution of alienate

First Known Use: 1400 year
Language of Origin: Latin
Story behind the word: The word 'alienate' comes from the Latin word 'alienare', which means to make someone feel estranged or indifferent.
Evolution of the word: Originally, 'alienate' was used in legal contexts to refer to the transfer of property rights. Over time, its meaning expanded to include the idea of causing someone to feel isolated or estranged.