alienate
/ˈeɪ.li.ə.neɪt/
Group 15Difficulty 1/3
Definition
- (verb)
- To cause someone to feel isolated or estranged; to make hostile GRE
Example in Context
The company's aggressive cost-cutting alienated loyal employees who had devoted decades of service to the organization.
Synonyms
push awayisolateestrange
Etymology
Making someone feel like they belong to another group, thus isolating them.
- alienus (Latin) — belonging to another
Memory Aid
👽Sounds like “alien ate”
An ALIEN ATE your friends, leaving you feeling isolated and hostile!
Visual Association
🚀A lonely astronaut floating in space, surrounded by distant stars, feeling estranged.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “alienate” mean on the GRE?
alienate (verb) means “To cause someone to feel isolated or estranged; to make hostile”. The company's aggressive cost-cutting alienated loyal employees who had devoted decades of service to the organization.
How to remember “alienate” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “alienate” sounds like “alien ate”. An ALIEN ATE your friends, leaving you feeling isolated and hostile!
What are synonyms for “alienate”?
Common synonyms: push away, isolate, estrange.