verb
estrange
eh-STRAYNJ/ɛstrˈeɪndʒ/
To make someone feel distant or no longer affectionate toward another.
The estranged friends sit at opposite ends of the bench, turned away.
Etymology
Extraneus describes someone foreign or from outside. Estranging people means treating them as strangers, shifting the idea of being an outsider into emotional distance within a relationship.
More examples
- Years of silence have estranged him from his father.
- She fears that the dispute will estrange her closest friend.
- His harsh words are estranging him from his children.
Forms
estrange · estranges · estranged · estranging
estrangement noun — Emotional distance between formerly close people.