alienation

Definition

The psychological experience of feeling like you're at a party but not actually at the party—emotionally disconnected from society, relationships, or your own consciousness. It's what happens when your soul buys a ticket but decides to stay home instead.

Example Usage

After the quarterly merger announcement, complete alienation swept through the office as employees realized their jobs were just part of a larger corporate machine.

Source: Merriam-Webster, common psychology and sociology terminology

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