Understanding the Synonym of 'Alienated'

The question asks for the most appropriate synonym of the word "alienated" as used in the sentence: "The government’s policies have alienated a large section of the society."

Let's break down the meaning of the word "alienated" in this specific context.

Meaning of 'Alienated'

In this sentence, "alienated" means to cause someone to feel estranged, isolated, or detached from a group or society. Policies that alienate a group make them feel like outsiders or that they don't belong.

Analyzing the Options

We need to find the word among the options that best matches this meaning of causing separation or estrangement.

• Separated: This means to divide or detach. If a group is "separated" from society by policies, it aligns well with the feeling of being alienated or estranged.
• Deactivated: This means to make inactive or inoperative. Government policies might make things inactive, but they don't make a section of society "deactivated" in the sense of feeling estranged. This is not a fitting synonym.
• Validated: This means to prove or declare the validity of something. This is the opposite of alienation; validation would make a group feel accepted and recognized, not estranged.
• Divorce: While "divorce" means legal dissolution of marriage, it can also broadly mean a separation or detachment. However, in the context of a group within society, "separated" is a more common and direct synonym for the feeling of being alienated or estranged by policies than "divorce". "Separated" is a more general term for detachment.

Selecting the Most Appropriate Synonym

Comparing the options, "Separated" is the word that most closely aligns with the meaning of causing a large section of society to feel detached or estranged due to government policies. It captures the idea of putting a distance between the group and the rest of society.

Therefore, the most appropriate synonym for "alienated" in this sentence is "Separated".