Tom, stranded alone at the beginning of sentences, couldn't get used to the growing estrangement of Mary.
Source: tatoeba (1076389)
Estrangement
/ɪsˈtɹeɪnd͡ʒmənt/
Synonyms for "estrangement" (63 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (13)
Noun(7 words)
Adjective(1 words)
broken ties
Strong matches (19)
Noun(13 words)
disaffectiondisassociatingdisassociationdisassociation from groupdisconnectdisconnected fromdisconnectiondisconnectionsdisowningdisownmentdisplacementdistancesdisunion
Adjective(2 words)
disconnected kinshipemotional distance
Related words (31)
Noun(20 words)
emotionally distantestrangingfamily alienationfamily disconnectionfamily disunityfamily riftforeignnessisolationlack of kinshipmore alienatingmore distance forcenorwegian bryteschool alienationseparate from othersseparationsouringstrangenessunfamiliarityunrelated to icelandunrelatedness
Adjective(2 words)
political tensionssocial disassociation
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: alienation, alienating, alienation from peers, aliening, alienness.
- Sentence evidence is available for estrangement, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wiktionary, wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "estrangement".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "estrangement"
Keep "estrangement" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "estrangement" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "estrangement", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "estrangement" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
8 entriesMore specific
6 entriescommunication breakdownconflict escalationcultural estrangementfamily estrangementgeographic estrangementpeer estrangement
Collocations
6 entriesearly estrangementfamily estrangementgenerational estrangementmutual estrangementprolonged estrangementromantic estrangement
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
4 entriesSample sentences
7 total sentences available.
Tom's wife was notably absent from his birthday party, so it seems rumors of their estrangement are likely true.
Source: tatoeba (3028912)
In 1972 US President Richard Nixon visited the People’s Republic of China, ending years of estrangement between the two countries and lifting the bamboo curtain China had been hidden behind since Mao Zedong launched his Cultural Revolution in 1966.
Source: tatoeba (11602110)
William is working to rebuild his relationship with his son after a period of estrangement.
Source: tatoeba (11618007)
Showing 4 of 7 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "estrangement"?
Closest matches include alienation, alienating, alienation from peers, aliening, alienness.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "estrangement"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.