estranged
Definition
- Adjective:
- No longer close or affectionate; alienated: Describes a person who was once close (like a family member or spouse) but has become distant, often due to disagreement or conflict.
- Caused to be unloved or hostile: Refers to the state of having affection replaced by indifference or animosity.
Usage
- The adjective "estranged" is primarily used to describe a person's relationship status, particularly with family or a spouse. It implies a formal or emotional separation.
- It is often used attributively (before a noun), such as in "estranged husband" or "estranged father."
Examples
- Adjective:
- She hasn't spoken to her estranged brother in over a decade.
- He is trying to reconcile with his estranged wife.
- The estranged couple decided to sell their shared property.
Advanced Usage
- "to be/become estranged from someone": This is the most common construction, describing the process or state of alienation from a specific person.
- After the argument, he became estranged from his entire family.
- Used in legal or formal contexts to specify a relationship that is broken but not legally dissolved (e.g., "estranged spouse").
Variants and Related Words
- Estrange (verb): To cause someone to be no longer close or affectionate.
- His lies served to estrange him from his friends.
- Estrangement (noun): The state of being estranged; a period of alienation.
- Their estrangement lasted for years before they reconciled.
Synonyms
- Alienated: Caused to feel isolated or estranged.
- Disaffected: Dissatisfied with authority, often leading to estrangement.
- Estranged is more specific to personal, formerly close relationships, while alienated can be broader.
Antonyms
- Close: Emotionally connected.
- Reconciled: Having restored a friendly relationship after estrangement.
Notes
- "Estranged" describes a resulting from a past action or series of events. It is not typically used for temporary disagreements but for sustained periods of emotional distance.
- It is a stronger term than "distant" and implies a rupture in what was once a significant bond.
Adjective
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caused to be unloved
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