What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
estranged
Example
After the argument, they became estranged and stopped talking to each other. [estranged: adjective]
Example
She felt estranged from her old friends after moving to a new city. [estranged: verb]
distance
Example
The distance between the two cities was too far to travel by car. [distance: noun]
Example
He kept his distance from his ex-girlfriend after the breakup. [distance: noun]
Example
She tried to distance herself from the negative influences in her life. [distance: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Distance is more commonly used than estranged in everyday language. Distance is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while estranged is less common and is typically used to describe relationships that have become hostile or distant.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between estranged and distance?
Both estranged and distance can be used in formal and informal contexts, but estranged may be more formal due to its less common usage and negative connotation.
