Which term describes the feeling of estrangement in social situations?

The term that best describes the feeling of estrangement in social situations is alienation. This concept encompasses a sense of disconnection and emotional distance from others, leading individuals to feel that they do not belong or are not understood. Alienation captures not only the feeling of being physically separated from a group but also the psychological state where one feels unacknowledged or unwelcome in social contexts.

Isolation refers more specifically to being physically apart from others, which doesn’t necessarily imply the emotional disconnection that characterizes alienation. Exclusion involves being deliberately left out or denied a place in a social setting, which can contribute to feelings of alienation but does not fully encompass the broader emotional experience. Loneliness, while related, primarily focuses on the subjective experience of being alone or feeling alone, which may or may not be linked to a sense of estrangement in social contexts. Thus, alienation is the most fitting term for describing a feeling of estrangement in social situations.