estranged

/ɪˈstreɪndʒd/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪˈstreɪndʒd/ (ame, ipa) · /i-ˈstrānjd/ (ame, mw)

estranged — adjective

  • estrangedpositive
  • more estrangedcomparative
  • most estrangedsuperlative

1. describes a married person whose spouse now lives separately, typically because

1.形容詞B2
釋義

describes a married person whose spouse now lives separately, typically because the relationship has broken down

例句

Oliver's estranged wife now lives in Berlin with their two children.

before a noun: estranged + family role (wife, husband)

A letter arrived for Diego's estranged husband on Tuesday, but he did not open it.

同義詞
  • separated

    more neutral and legal; can be temporary or agreed, while 'estranged' suggests emotional distance

  • parted

    less common; sometimes used in formal or literary contexts for couples who have split

反義詞
  • together

    describes a couple still living as partners

  • reconciled

    describes a couple who have resolved their problems and are living together again

文法句型

possessive + estranged + spouse noun (husband/wife)

be estranged from + spouse

用法筆記

This sense is most common in attributive position (before a noun) — e.g. 'estranged husband', 'estranged wife'. When used predicatively, the preposition 'from' is required: 'She is estranged from her husband.' Not used to describe a mutual state between two people — it describes one person's relationship to the other.

常見錯誤

❌She is estranged with her husband.
✅She is estranged from her husband.
💡The correct preposition after 'estranged' is always 'from', never 'with' or 'of.'
❌My wife and I are estranged.
✅My wife and I are separated.
💡'Estranged' describes one person's position relative to another, not a mutual condition of a couple.

2. describes someone who has had a serious disagreement with close family members o

2.形容詞B2
釋義

describes someone who has had a serious disagreement with close family members or friends and has stopped speaking to them or spending time with them

例句

Minh has been estranged from his brother since their angry fight about the family business.

pattern: estranged from + family member — specifies the relationship that broke down

Amara decided to call her estranged cousin in Seoul after ten years without any contact.

同義詞
  • alienated

    more formal and broader — can describe feeling distant without a single dramatic event

  • disconnected

    less emotional; can mean simply out of touch, not necessarily from conflict

  • cut off

    more informal and vivid; suggests the other person deliberately ended contact

反義詞
  • close

    describes a warm, communicative relationship

  • reconciled

    describes people who have made peace after a conflict

  • reunited

    describes people who have come back together after a period apart

文法句型

be estranged from + family member / friend

possessive + estranged + family noun (brother, daughter, parents)

用法筆記

Always followed by 'from' when specifying the other person: 'estranged from his father'. The noun or pronoun after 'from' names the person or group the subject used to be close to. Frequently used with family terms (parents, siblings, children), less often with friends.

常見錯誤

❌I am estranged of my brother.
✅I am estranged from my brother.
💡Only 'from' is correct after 'estranged', never 'of' or 'with.'
❌She is estranged to her parents.
✅She is estranged from her parents.
💡Another common wrong preposition; always use 'from.'