Estrangement

Meaning

The state of being alienated, separated, or distanced from someone or something previously close.

Origin / Etymology

From Old French 'estranger' (to treat as a stranger), from Latin 'extraneus' (foreign, external). Same root as 'strange' and 'stranger'.

Synonyms

Alienation Disaffection Rift

Antonyms

Rapprochement Reconciliation Bonding

Example Sentence

"President Lula's public criticism of the US FTO designation of Comando Vermelho and PCC signals a fresh estrangement in US-Brazil relations ahead of October 2026 elections."

🎯 UPSC Usage

GS2 IR: Use for diplomatic cooling, Sino-Indian estrangement post-Galwan, US-Brazil estrangement under Trump 2.0. Pair with 'rapprochement' for cycles.

Relevant Subjects

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