alienate
UK: ˈeɪ.li.ə.neɪt | US: ˈeɪ.li.ə.neɪt
vt. to cause someone to feel isolated or estranged
vt. (law) to transfer ownership of property
vt. (archaic) to turn away or divert
The word "alienate" traces back to Latin alienare ("to make another's, to estrange"), built from alienus ("foreign, other"). The core idea of "otherness" evolved into the modern sense of emotional or social estrangement. In legal contexts, it retains the original Latin meaning of transferring ownership (making something "another's"). The verb suffix -ate systematically converts the root into an action.
His harsh criticism began to alienate his closest friends.
The government feared the policy would alienate minority groups.
She filed paperwork to alienate the property to her son.
Constant arguments can alienate family members over time.
The king sought to alienate the church’s influence in politics.