alienation

A feeling that you do not belong with other people or share their lives.

• He felt a strong sense of alienation.
• Moving to a new city increased her alienation.
• The novel explores loneliness and alienation among young people.

How to use it: alienation from someone/something (She described her alienation from the community.)

Similar words: isolation, estrangement

Opposites: belonging

Common phrases: a sense of alienation, social alienation, feel alienation

The act of making people feel unwelcome or less willing to support someone or something.

• The policy caused the alienation of many voters.
• Rude service can lead to customer alienation.
• They feared further alienation of their audience.

How to use it: alienation of someone (The changes led to the alienation of loyal customers.)

Similar words: estrangement

Common phrases: alienation of voters, risk alienation, cause alienation

The state of no longer having a close or friendly relationship with someone or something.

• His alienation from his family lasted years.
• The dispute deepened her alienation from old friends.
• They hoped to end the alienation between the two groups.

How to use it: alienation from someone/something (Her alienation from her parents began after the argument.)

Similar words: estrangement, estrangement from others

Common phrases: alienation from family, growing alienation, deep alienation

People becoming separated from their own human needs and abilities because of work and unequal social classes.

• The lecture discussed alienation under capitalism.
• Marx linked alienation to the way work was organized.
• Workers experienced alienation when they had no control over production.

Common phrases: worker alienation, alienation under capitalism, theory of alienation