designed to alienate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "designed to alienate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has been intentionally created or structured to create feelings of isolation or estrangement. Example: "The new policy changes were perceived as designed to alienate certain groups within the community."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

It's designed to alienate no one.

The New York Times - Arts

I was recording experimental music that was just designed to alienate people".

The New York Times - Arts

Whatever the rights and wrongs of the strikers' cause, deciding to walk out over Christmas seems almost designed to alienate the British public.

The Guardian - Opinion

It sometimes seems as if cellphone deals were designed to alienate customers rather than to lure them into that sweet garden of inertia.

The New York Times

But Trump is certainly pursuing a set of policies that could have been explicitly designed to alienate Democrats, and to preclude any sort of political accommodation.

The New Yorker

Waliser, who has long curly red hair, stood before a large pad of paper filled with equations, the sort of thing that sometimes makes the Iowa caucuses seem designed to alienate ordinary people and prevent them from participating.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

There are mass arrests of young men of colour for simply hanging around, courts that harass the poor and hand down long and racially discriminatory sentences for relatively minor offences, and prisons that are seemingly designed to break and alienate inmates.

The Guardian

Mr. Warwick acknowledges, however, that the musical selection is also designed not to alienate any viewers.

The New York Times - Arts

His austere policies, designed to halt inflation, alienated his colleagues and led to his resignation in April 1945.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Shanahan was a Detroit Red Wing during the 2004-5 lockout when he convened a panel of players, coaches and executives to explore rule changes designed to win back fans alienated by a decade of stultifying, defense-oriented play.

The New York Times - Sports

They're using words that, while designed to engage customers, can sometimes alienate them.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "designed to alienate", ensure the context clearly indicates intentionality. The phrase implies a deliberate effort to cause estrangement, so the subject should be capable of purposeful action.

Common error

Avoid using "designed to alienate" when describing unintentional consequences. If the alienation is a side effect rather than a goal, use phrases like "had the effect of alienating" or "inadvertently alienated" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "designed to alienate" functions as a purpose clause, indicating the intended outcome of a particular action or design. As Ludwig AI pointed out, it suggests a deliberate effort to cause estrangement or exclusion, attributing a specific aim to the subject in question.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "designed to alienate" is a phrase used to describe something intentionally created to cause estrangement or exclusion. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and commonly used, particularly in news and media contexts, but also in academia and science. When using the phrase, ensure the context clearly indicates intentionality and avoid misattributing intent to unintentional consequences. Consider alternatives like "intended to isolate" or "meant to estrange" for varying levels of emphasis. While versatile, it's crucial to use this phrase with precision, understanding its inherent negative connotation. The phrase's strength lies in its capacity to convey a deliberate act of creating distance, and as such, its use should be reserved for situations where that intent is evident.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intended to estrange

Emphasizes the intent to cause estrangement, focusing on emotional distance.

aimed at estranging

Similar to 'intended', but with a direct focus on the act of estranging.

conceived to alienate

Focuses on the initial conception or idea with the intent to alienate.

meant to isolate

Highlights the aim to create a sense of isolation.

purposely isolating

Highlights the purposefulness of the act, focusing on isolation.

calculated to exclude

Focuses on the deliberate calculation behind the act of exclusion.

deliberately excluding

Emphasizes the conscious and intentional nature of the exclusion.

engineered to marginalize

Highlights the systematic design to push someone to the margins.

formulated to estrange

Implies a careful formulation with the specific goal of causing estrangement.

structured to exclude

Highlights how something is setup, or structured, to exclude.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "designed to alienate" to sound less accusatory?

Consider using phrases like "intended to isolate", "meant to estrange", or "calculated to exclude" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always negative to say something is "designed to alienate"?

Yes, the phrase inherently carries a negative connotation as it implies a deliberate action to cause estrangement or exclusion. It suggests that the design was purposefully implemented to push people away or create division.

What's the difference between "designed to alienate" and "had the effect of alienating"?

"Designed to alienate" implies intentionality, meaning the alienation was a planned outcome. "Had the effect of alienating" suggests the alienation was an unintended consequence, even if the design wasn't explicitly intended to push people away.

Can "designed to alienate" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "designed to alienate" can be used in formal writing. However, ensure that the context is appropriate and that the deliberate intent to alienate is clear and supported by evidence, as it's a strong claim to make.