Unfamiliarize

To cause someone to lose knowledge of or become unaccustomed to something previously known or familiar. It implies a process of making something seem foreign or strange, often through disuse, distancing, or a change in circumstances. This can involve forgetting information, becoming less comfortable with a skill, or experiencing a shift in perspective that renders something once commonplace as novel or obscure. The process can be voluntary, such as intentionally distancing oneself from a past life, or involuntary, resulting from time, change, or trauma.

Unfamiliarize meaning with examples

• After years living abroad, the returning expat had to unfamiliarize herself with the customs and norms of her home country, realizing that she no longer instinctively knew how to navigate daily life. This resulted in her sometimes appearing awkward or confused until she re-acclimated.
• The rigorous training regime was designed to unfamiliarize soldiers with their comfortable, civilian lives, breaking down their ingrained habits and replacing them with reflexes suitable for combat scenarios. This process was often unsettling and traumatic.
• He deliberately chose a different route to work each day, trying to unfamiliarize himself with the monotonous familiarity of his commute and encourage a sense of adventure. He hoped this would help to break down the monotony of his work life.
• The amnesiac struggled to unfamiliarize himself with his previous self, reviewing photographs and letters to piece together the identity he no longer could remember. It was a slow and frustrating journey to understand the life he once lived.