estranged
eh-STRAYNJD
/ɪˈstreɪndʒd/
No longer close or affectionate to someone; alienated.
Often used for family members or spouses who have stopped living together or speaking.
The story behind the word. The word comes from the Latin 'extra' (outside). To be estranged is quite literally to be 'outside' the circle of someone's life, treated as if you were a stranger ('extraneus').
Word relationships
- alienated: Alienated is the feeling of being an outsider; estranged is the state of the relationship being broken.
- separated: Separated is a physical or legal state; estranged is an emotional and social state.
- intimate: Intimate implies closeness, whereas estranged implies distance.
- close-knit: Close-knit describes a tight group; estranged describes a broken one.
Commonly confused with
- strange: Strange means unusual; estranged means treated like a stranger.
Word family
- estrangement (noun): The state of being alienated or no longer on friendly terms.
Collocations
- estranged husband
- estranged wife
- become estranged
Example sentences
- "He remained estranged from his father for over a decade following the argument." Describing a father and son who don't speak.
- "The estranged couple is currently negotiating the terms of their separation." A news snippet about a celebrity couple.
Memory hook
Estranged makes you feel like a 'stranger'. Estranged = E-stranger (Ex-stranger).
When not to use
Don't use it for a casual friend you haven't seen in a while; it implies a deeper, more painful rift.
Fun facts
- The word 'strange' and 'estranged' both come from the same root meaning 'outside'.
Explore more words
estrange, estrangement, alienate, alienation, drift apart, disconnect
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