estrange
UK: ɪˈstreɪndʒ | US: ɪˈstreɪndʒ
vt. to cause someone to feel alienated or no longer close
vt. to remove or keep at a distance (often emotionally)
The word "estrange" originates from Latin extraneare (to treat as a stranger), derived from extraneus (foreign, external). The prefix e- (from ex-) means "out," and strange evolved from extraneus, meaning "foreign." Over time, the sense shifted from physical separation to emotional alienation, reflecting the human experience of distancing or becoming unfamiliar.
His harsh words began to estrange his closest friends.
Years of disagreement estranged the siblings.
She felt estranged from her family after moving abroad.
The political scandal estranged him from his supporters.
Technology can sometimes estrange people from real-life interactions.