Word: alienated

Associations

The word "alienated" means to feel disconnected or estranged from someone or something. It often describes the feeling of not belonging or being isolated in a social setting.

• A person might feel alienated if they move to a new city and don't know anyone. Their sense of loneliness is strong.
• Someone may feel alienated at work if their ideas are not accepted by their colleagues, making them feel left out.
• A teenager might feel alienated from their family if they have different interests and struggles to communicate with them.

A well-known synonym for "alienated" is "isolated." The main difference is that while "alienated" implies a sense of disconnection or estrangement from others (emotionally or socially), "isolated" tends to focus more on physical separation or solitude.

Substitution

You could use words like "estranged," "disconnected," or "removed" in place of "alienated," but each carries slightly different meanings.

• "Estranged" often applies to relationships that were once close but are now distant.
• "Disconnected" can suggest a lack of communication or emotional bond.
• "Removed" implies a sense of being separated or distant, but it can also suggest a lack of involvement.

Deconstruction

The word "alienated" comes from the root “alien,” which means foreign or different. It comes from Latin "alienus," meaning "belonging to another." The suffix “-ated” suggests that this is a state or condition resulting from an action. When someone is alienated, they are in the state of being made to feel foreign or excluded.

Inquiry

1. Can you think of a time when you felt alienated? What were the circumstances?
2. In what situations might someone feel alienated in a group setting?
3. How can people help someone who feels alienated to feel more included?