Estranger

An estranger is a person or thing that causes separation, alienation, or the loss of familiarity and connection between individuals, groups, or even oneself. They act as a catalyst for estrangement, fostering a sense of distance, unfamiliarity, or hostility. This process can manifest through physical separation, the erosion of shared experiences, differing perspectives, or actions leading to social isolation. An estranger disrupts the natural flow of relationships, severing bonds that were once strong, turning what was once familiar into a foreign entity.

Estranger meaning with examples

• His political views, drastically different from those of his family, gradually made him an estranger within his own home. The dinner table conversations became increasingly strained, and the warmth of their relationship faded as he defended his ideologies.
• The new technology became an estranger in their marriage, replacing face-to-face communication with constant phone usage. The shared intimacy they had was destroyed as they retreated into their digital worlds, slowly forgetting what connected them.
• The sudden change in his behavior, driven by personal loss, made him an estranger to his longtime friends. Once inseparable, they found themselves unable to understand or support the new, distant person he'd become, drifting apart.
• The vast economic disparity created an estranger between the rich and poor communities, making empathy and understanding virtually nonexistent. The lack of shared experiences and social interaction further deepened the divide.
• His prolonged isolation and the constant criticism he faced from his peers ultimately turned him into an estranger within the group. His once bright and outgoing personality slowly disappeared and he was left with a deep feeling of separation.