Crossword Genius

To people a deception produces estrangement (10)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

alienation

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'estrangement' is the definition.
('alienation' can be a synonym of 'estrangement')

'to people' is the wordplay.
'to' becomes 'alie' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'people' becomes 'nation'.
'alie'+'nation'='ALIENATION'

'a deception produces' is the link.
This may not be right. Some or all of it may belong to another bit of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for alienation that I've seen before include "Estrangement" , "Turning" , "Detachment from body" , "State of feeling isolated" , "the effect of Brecht" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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