What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
disaffect
Example
The employees were disaffected by the company's lack of transparency. [disaffect: verb]
Example
The politician's actions disaffected many of his supporters. [disaffected: adjective]
alienate
Example
His abrasive personality alienated him from his coworkers. [alienate: verb]
Example
The new policies have alienated many of the company's long-time customers. [alienated: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Alienate is more commonly used than disaffect in everyday language. Alienate is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while disaffect is less common and more formal, often used in academic or professional settings.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between disaffect and alienate?
Disaffect is typically associated with a more formal tone, while alienate is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.