separate 1 of 2

adjective

ˈse-p(ə-)rət How to pronounce separate (audio)
Definition of separatenext
1
as in different
not the same or shared we stayed in separate apartments on our vacation

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in single
not physically attached to another unit the housing development has 200 separate homes, each with its own enclosed yard

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in independent
not being under the rule or control of another the former Soviet republic is now a separate country

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4
as in personal
of, relating to, or belonging to a single person the husband and wife each have separate interests

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

separate

2 of 2

verb

ˈse-pə-ˌrāt How to pronounce separate (audio)
1
as in to divide
to set or force apart we tried to separate the gluey pages, but they were stuck tight

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to part
to go or move in different directions from a central point the searchers separated in order to cover more ground

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3
as in to classify
to arrange or assign according to type separate the students by reading ability

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4
as in to isolate
to set or keep apart from others separated the injured calf from the herd

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5
as in to differentiate
to understand or point out the difference in trying to separate science from religion on one specific point

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6
as in to split
to cause (people) to break up into opposing groups The controversy separated the company's leadership into competing sides.

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word separate different from other adjectives like it?

The words discrete and distinct are common synonyms of separate. While all three words mean "not being each and every one the same," separate often stresses lack of connection or a difference in identity between two things.

separate rooms

When could discrete be used to replace separate?

Although the words discrete and separate have much in common, discrete strongly emphasizes individuality and lack of connection.

broke the job down into discrete stages

When would distinct be a good substitute for separate?

The meanings of distinct and separate largely overlap; however, distinct indicates that something is distinguished by the mind or eye as being apart or different from others.

two distinct versions

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of separate
Adjective
Thai productions can also receive support from the Thai Media Fund, a separate organisation under the National Broadcasting & Television Commission (NBTC), while the Ministry Of Culture also has units working with the creative industries. —Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2025 The announcements offer rare good news for UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, whose Labour Party lags in the polls and who has lost his deputy prime minister, his US ambassador, and a senior advisor over separate scandals in just a week. —Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
The person who filmed the video also showed two toilets separated from the rest of the room by only a waist-high wall. —Laura Romero, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2025 There’s no separating the pain from the pleasures of life. —Colin Bedell, Them., 17 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for separate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for separate
  1. different
  2. single
  3. independent
  4. personal
  5. divide
  6. part
  7. classify
  8. isolate
Adjective
  • These gains appeared across different growing conditions.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 13 Sep. 2025
  • That's because nudity can take on drastically different meanings.
    — Charles Trepany, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
Definition of different
Adjective
  • These acts are punishable crimes, and every single threat will be met with the full force of the law.
    — Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 17 Sep. 2025
  • The Midong solar project is the world's largest single-solar power producer, potentially generating enough electricity for 5 million households.
    — Jeff Young, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
Definition of single
Adjective
  • Charter schools are overseen by independent boards, overwhelmingly, like nonprofit boards of directors that manage the oversight and then follow all or most of the same government rules related to public schools.
    — Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Employers increasingly wonder whether campuses are cultivating independent thinkers or just cautious followers.
    — Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Definition of independent
Adjective
  • Celebrity contestants are taking the stage with personal anthem performances, launching a new season of competition and fan voting.
    — Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
  • As the Color of the Year phenomenon continues to drive kitchen design trends, with brands like KitchenAid announcing their own shade annually, consumers are increasingly reaching for colorful cookware as a way to express their personal style.
    — Heather Riske, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Sep. 2025
Definition of personal
Verb
  • In fact, a quick review of the central bank’s dot plot underscores just how divided the Fed Governors are on the question of whether to cut interest rates (and by how much) over the next 12 months.
    — Paul Weinstein Jr, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
  • The procession is escorted by 80 soldiers from the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, divided into four units and carrying the regimental flags of the Life Guards and the Blues and Royals.
    — Amanda Castro Hannah Parry Shane Croucher Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
Definition of divide
Verb
  • Rain drizzled down most of the day Friday and into the early evening, but before sunset, as Kansas City shredder Samantha Fish was unleashing on guitar, the clouds parted to make way for a vibrant, double rainbow that arched over the entire box canyon.
    — Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Her hair was parted down the middle in loose waves.
    — Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025
Definition of part
Verb
  • Forbes classifies Ellison–who bought nearly all of the Hawaiian island Lanai for $300 million in 2012–as a California resident based on his voter registration.
    — Ella Malmgren, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Arguing that relocation can stem the loss of biodiversity, the government has classified some islands used by Nicobarese tribals as wildlife sanctuaries.
    — M. Rajshekhar, Time, 11 Sep. 2025
Definition of classify
Verb
  • Meanwhile, the headphones, meant to unify the audience in a shared soundscape, instead isolate viewers into their glowing silos, which feels like an ironic choice for a show supposedly about communal grief.
    — David Hochman, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
  • The procedure typically begins with local anesthesia and placement of a rubber dam to isolate the tooth.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
Definition of isolate

Browse Nearby Words

separable
separate
separated
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Cite this Entry

“Separate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/separate. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.

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