alienate someone from + person/group
Create distance or separation
Use from to show who or what someone becomes disconnected from.
The campaign alienated younger voters from the candidate
alienate from, by, due, for or in?
Alienate is usually followed by from when someone becomes emotionally distant from a person, group, or activity.
Quick answer
Which preposition follows alienate?
Use alienate from to show separation or loss of connection: The policy alienated voters from the party. By may introduce the cause in passive structures, such as alienated by criticism. Due, for, and in are not standard complements after alienate.
The scandal alienated many supporters from the organisation
He felt alienated by the hostile atmosphere
Long hours can alienate workers from their families
He felt alienated by the hostile atmosphere
Long hours can alienate workers from their families
Choose the pattern by meaning
These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.
be alienated by + behaviour/event
Name the cause of alienation
By introduces the thing causing negative feelings in passive structures.
Many employees were alienated by the sudden changes
feel alienated in + place/situation
Add context with a separate phrase
In can describe the setting where someone feels isolated, but it is not a fixed complement of alienate.
She felt isolated in the new environment
See the difference in context
The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.
Construction
Example
Meaning
alienate from
The remarks alienated customers from the brand.
Standard pattern showing emotional or social separation.
alienate by
Some readers were alienated by the tone of the article.
By introduces the cause in passive constructions.
alienate due
The team lost support due to poor results.
Due is not used directly after alienate.
alienate for
He was criticised for his comments.
For is not a standard complement after alienate.
alienate in
She felt lonely in the city.
In may introduce location or context, not a fixed alienate pattern.
Common mistakes
Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.
Using due after alienate
Use due to separately, or use from after alienate.
✕ They alienated due the audience. ✓ They alienated the audience from the movement.Using for after alienate
Alienate does not normally take for as its complement.
✕ The speech alienated voters for the party. ✓ The speech alienated voters from the party.Confusing by and from
From shows separation; by shows the cause.
✕ She was alienated from the rude treatment. ✓ She was alienated by the rude treatment.Quick practice
Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.
1. The decision alienated many members ___ the club.
2. Several users were alienated ___ the aggressive advertising.
3. Which sentence is idiomatic? ___
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Frequently asked questions
Can alienate be followed by from?
Yes. Alienate someone from something is the standard pattern.
Is alienate by correct?
Yes, mainly in passive structures such as alienated by his behaviour.
Can I say alienate for or alienate due?
These are not standard combinations after alienate.
Related preposition guides
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