estranged

adjective

es·​tranged i-ˈstrānjd How to pronounce estranged (audio)
Synonyms of estranged
: having lost former closeness and affection : in a state of alienation from a previous close or familial relationship
her estranged husband [=her husband with whom she no longer lives]
Social workers may try to resolve conflicts between estranged siblings.—Jonathan D. Rockoff
He had taken out a life insurance policy on his estranged wife just weeks before her murder …—David Fisher
… it's kind of shameful to admit your idea of unwinding in front of the TV is watching somebody's entire family get murdered by their greedy, estranged uncle.—Lauren Zupkus

Examples of estranged in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The 1967 drama is about estranged brothers who are forced to deal with each other while haggling over the sale of their recently deceased father’s furniture to a dealer. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 1 Aug. 2026 Insiders claimed that Cruise came to terms with his and Suri’s estranged relationship a long time ago. — Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 29 July 2026 The Sussex clan, which has had an estranged relationship with the royal family in recent years, met with King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Highgrove House, Charles and Camilla's private country residence in Gloucestershire, England. — Edward Segarra, USA Today, 29 July 2026 Cue a reunion with estranged former bestie and Vanderpump Rules castmate Katie Maloney. — Anna Moeslein, Glamour, 28 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for estranged

Word History

First Known Use

1538, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of estranged was in 1538

Phrases Containing estranged

Rhymes for estranged

See All Rhymes for estranged

Browse Nearby Words

estrange
estranged
estranged couple
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Cite this Entry

“Estranged.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/estranged. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for estranged

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