To alienate someone means to make them feel unwanted, excluded, or pushed away, often turning a friend or ally into a stranger. When you alienate people, you damage or destroy your relationship with them through your words or actions.

A new student might accidentally alienate potential friends by bragging constantly about achievements from their old school, making others feel inferior or annoyed. A team captain could alienate teammates by taking all the credit for victories, causing resentment to build. Parents might alienate their children by dismissing their feelings or refusing to listen.

When you alienate someone, you make them feel like a stranger or outsider, even if they were once close to you.

Alienation often happens gradually. One thoughtless comment might not alienate a friend, but a pattern of selfish behavior eventually can. Someone who constantly interrupts others, refuses to share, or treats people coldly may find themselves increasingly alone and alienated from their community.

The opposite of alienating people is drawing them closer through kindness, respect, and genuine interest in their lives. Rebuilding trust after alienating someone takes patience and sincere effort.