Standard Lemma guide

disaffect

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /dɪsəˈfɛkt/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: D IH2 S AH0 F EH1 K T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To cause a loss of affection, sympathy or loyalty in; to alienate or estrange.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

arouse hostility or indifference in where there had formerly been love, affection, or friendliness

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • She alienated her friends when she became fanatically religious

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: estrange, alienate, alien

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: change, alter, modify

Narrower terms: drift apart, drift away, wean

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *dwóh1 Proto-Indo-European *d(w)is- Proto-Italic *dis- Latin dis- Old French des-bor. ▲ Latin dis-bor. Middle English dis- English dis- English affect English disaffect From dis- + affect.