Alienate vs. Ostracize — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 9, 2024
Alienate means to create emotional distance or make someone feel isolated from a group or relationship, while ostracize refers to actively excluding or banning someone from a group or society.
Difference Between Alienate and Ostracize
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Alienate involves causing someone to feel estranged or detached, often unintentionally, by actions or changes in behavior that create emotional distance. This may happen in personal relationships or within social or work environments. Ostracize, on the other hand, involves a deliberate and systematic exclusion from a community or group, effectively isolating the individual socially.
Alienate can result from neglect, misunderstandings, or changes in priorities, pushing someone to feel unwelcome or misunderstood. Ostracize, in contrast, is an active social punishment where someone is intentionally shunned or banished from participation.
Alienation often impacts personal relationships, making people feel unappreciated or different. Ostracism is more explicit and collective, with a group agreeing to reject or ignore someone.
Alienate can happen over time without a group's intent to exclude, while ostracize is a conscious decision made by a majority.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Cause emotional distancing or isolation
Deliberate exclusion or shunning
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Intent
Unintentional or indirect
Intentional and systematic
Impact
Emotional distance, feeling unwanted
Complete exclusion from a group
Context
Personal relationships, work, society
Social groups, organizations, communities
Outcome
Feeling unappreciated or neglected
Socially rejected, isolated, banned
Compare with Definitions
Alienate
Isolate emotionally.
Her lack of empathy began to alienate her closest friends.
Ostracize
Exclude socially.
After the scandal, the company ostracized the former manager.
Alienate
Cause to feel unwelcome.
The team's internal politics alienated new employees.
Ostracize
Banish deliberately.
The community ostracized him due to his controversial views.
Alienate
Detach mentally.
Working long hours has alienated him from his family.
Ostracize
Isolate deliberately.
In ancient Greece, people could be ostracized for ten years.
Alienate
Separate by behavior.
Speaking down to colleagues alienated her from the staff.
Ostracize
Ignore collectively.
The kids ostracized their classmate, refusing to talk to him.
Alienate
Create misunderstanding.
Using technical jargon alienates customers.
Ostracize
Systematic exclusion.
Dissidents were ostracized from the political organization.
Alienate
To cause to become unfriendly or hostile; estrange
Alienate a friend.
Alienate potential supporters by taking extreme positions.
Ostracize
Exclude from a society or group
She was declared a witch and ostracized by the villagers
Alienate
To cause to become withdrawn or unresponsive; isolate or dissociate emotionally
The numbing labor tended to alienate workers.
Ostracize
(in ancient Greece) banish (an unpopular or overly powerful citizen) from a city for five or ten years by popular vote
Themistocles was indeed out of favour at Athens by the end of the 470s, when he was ostracized
Alienate
To cause to be transferred; turn away
"He succeeded ... in alienating the affections of my only ward" (Oscar Wilde).
Ostracize
To exclude from a group or society
"Lepers wrapped in bandages—ostracized from their villages and unable to obtain work—rushed up to passing cars, waving crude handmade flags to warn of potholes, in the hope that motorists would fling loose change at them before they got too close" (John Ghazvinian). "Lionesses with worn and missing teeth are not ostracized from their pride, but live out their old age ... supported by the hunting of younger females" (Cindy Engel).
Alienate
(Law) To transfer (property or a right) to the ownership of another, especially by an act of the owner rather than by inheritance.
Ostracize
To banish by ostracism, as in ancient Greece.
Alienate
Estranged; withdrawn in affection; foreign
Ostracize
To ban a person from a city for five or ten years through the procedure of ostracism.
Alienate
(obsolete) A stranger; an alien.
Ostracize
(by extension) To exclude a person from a community or from society by not communicating with them or by refusing to acknowledge their presence; to refuse to associate with or talk to; to shun.
Thesaurus:pay attention
Alienate
To convey or transfer to another, as title, property, or right; to part voluntarily with ownership of.
Ostracize
To exile by ostracism; to banish by a popular vote, as at Athens.
Alienate
To estrange; to withdraw affections or attention from; to make indifferent or averse, where love or friendship before subsisted.
Ostracize
To banish from society, by a general consent; to exclude from social, political, or private favor; to exclude from conversation or friendship; to shun; as, he was ostracized by his former friends. A person may be ostracized by a formal vote or by a widespread but informal agreement.
Alienate
To cause one to feel unable to relate.
Ostracize
Expel from a community or group
Alienate
Estranged; withdrawn in affection; foreign; - with from.
O alienate from God.
Ostracize
Avoid speaking to or dealing with;
Ever since I spoke up, my colleagues ostracize me
Alienate
To convey or transfer to another, as title, property, or right; to part voluntarily with ownership of.
Alienate
To withdraw, as the affections; to make indifferent of averse, where love or friendship before subsisted; to estrange; to wean; - with from.
The errors which . . . alienated a loyal gentry and priesthood from the House of Stuart.
The recollection of his former life is a dream that only the more alienates him from the realities of the present.
Alienate
A stranger; an alien.
Alienate
Arouse hostility or indifference in where there had formerly been love, affection, or friendliness
Alienate
Transfer property or ownership;
The will aliened the property to the heirs
Common Curiosities
Is alienation always intentional?
No, it can happen unintentionally through neglect or changing behaviors.
Can someone be ostracized without a formal decision?
Yes, informal social norms can lead to ostracism without explicit rules.
Can ostracizing occur in professional settings?
Yes, workplace ostracism can involve shunning or sidelining an employee.
Is alienation always a negative experience?
Mostly, but some people seek alienation for solitude or independence.
Does alienate imply full exclusion?
No, it usually means emotional distancing rather than total exclusion.
Can ostracism lead to legal consequences?
Not directly, but it can result in social or professional repercussions.
Is ostracism effective as a social punishment?
It can be, but it also risks reinforcing negative behavior or creating resentment.
Can someone feel alienated while not being ostracized?
Yes, someone can feel emotionally distanced even if they're not excluded.
Can alienation be reversed easily?
It often requires effort to rebuild trust and mend relationships.
Is alienate used positively in any context?
Rarely, though some value alienation for creative or introspective pursuits.
Can alienation happen within families?
Yes, family conflicts can lead to feelings of alienation.
Can ostracizing have long-term effects?
Yes, it can lead to prolonged social isolation and emotional distress.
Is alienation more common than ostracism?
Yes, it's more frequent as it's often unintentional or subtle.
Are certain groups more prone to ostracizing others?
Some groups use ostracism to maintain conformity or social norms.
Is ostracism legally enforced in any country today?
Not typically, though similar practices may exist as social exclusion.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
