1. making something familiar seem strange, unfamiliar, or unusual; presenting the ordinary in a way that makes it appear new or surprising
Usage: present participle of defamiliarize; commonly used in literary and artistic criticism

1. having the quality or effect of making the familiar seem strange or unfamiliar
Usage: used to describe techniques, styles, or effects in art, literature, and film

Examples

• The director's defamiliarizing camera angles made everyday scenes feel unsettling.
• Defamiliarizing language in poetry forces readers to reconsider ordinary words.
• The artist used defamiliarizing techniques to challenge viewers' assumptions about reality.
• By defamiliarizing the domestic space, the author revealed hidden tensions in family life.
• The film's defamiliarizing soundtrack transformed familiar locations into alien environments.
• Defamiliarizing effects in theater can provoke deeper emotional responses from audiences.