solitary 1 of 2

adjective

ˈsä-lə-ˌter-ē How to pronounce solitary (audio)
Definition of solitarynext
1
as in lone
being the one or ones of a class with no other members a solitary example of truth-stretching is hardly grounds for branding the man a congenital liar

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in lonely
not being in the company of others a solitary sailboat was the only object on the horizon

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

solitary

2 of 2

noun

as in hermit
a person who lives away from others weary of European civilization, the painter Paul Gauguin famously abandoned France to become a solitary in the South Seas

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word solitary distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of solitary are alone, desolate, forlorn, lonely, lonesome, and lone. While all these words mean "isolated from others," solitary may indicate isolation as a chosen course, but more often it suggests sadness and a sense of loss.

glorying in the calm of her solitary life
left solitary by the death of his wife

When can alone be used instead of solitary?

The meanings of alone and solitary largely overlap; however, alone stresses the objective fact of being by oneself with slighter notion of emotional involvement than most of the remaining terms.

everyone needs to be alone sometimes

In what contexts can desolate take the place of solitary?

The words desolate and solitary can be used in similar contexts, but desolate implies inconsolable grief at loss or bereavement.

desolate after her brother's death

When is it sensible to use forlorn instead of solitary?

Although the words forlorn and solitary have much in common, forlorn stresses dejection, woe, and listlessness at separation from one held dear.

a forlorn lost child

How does the word lone relate to other synonyms for solitary?

Lone may replace lonely or lonesome but typically is as objective as alone.

a lone robin pecking at the lawn

How do lonely and solitary relate to one another?

Lonely adds to solitary a suggestion of longing for companionship.

felt lonely and forsaken

When is lonesome a more appropriate choice than solitary?

The synonyms lonesome and solitary are sometimes interchangeable, but lonesome heightens the suggestion of sadness and poignancy.

an only child often leads a lonesome life

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 solitary
Adjective
Each of the three sections of the novel are narrated by extremely solitary voices: the Brand Anthropologist, the Creative Director, and the Future Leader. —Hazlitt, 9 July 2025 He was told to sit on his bunk for the count, an interminable process that involved tallying every prisoner on the farm, from the men locked down in solitary cells to those wrangling cattle in far‑flung fields. —Literary Hub july 8, Literary Hub, 8 July 2025
Noun
Former convicts also said that men in solitary had to put away their beds from waking call to sleep time, forcing them to stand or sit for most of the day. —Anatoly Kurmanaev, New York Times, 29 Feb. 2024 The changes allow inmates in solitary to participate in additional rehabilitative programming and shave time off their isolation by earning credits. —Lindsey Holden, Sacramento Bee, 31 Jan. 2024 See All Example Sentences for solitary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for solitary
  1. lone
  2. lonely
  3. hermit
  4. only
  5. single
  6. one
  7. solo
  8. special
Adjective
  • Gomez, the lone Democrat on the commission, said she was troubled by Paramount’s payment to settle a suit brought by President Trump and by other concessions.
    — Todd Spangler, Variety, 24 July 2025
  • Emergency responders arrived on the scene and assisted the lone survivor.
    — Forum News Service, Twin Cities, 23 July 2025
Definition of lone
Adjective
  • But men and women who are flying solo—without a spouse—typically report their lives to be less meaningful and more lonely.
    — Brad Wilcox, The Atlantic, 29 July 2025
  • The series is handsomely composed — NFL Films knows how to capture sunlight slanting through shoulder pads and the lonely geometry of empty stadiums.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 July 2025
Definition of lonely
Noun
  • Get Your Butt Outside: Since the pandemic, too many of us have been living like hermits, working from home and socializing from home.
    — Dominique Fluker, Essence, 28 July 2025
  • The order was born juridically in March 1244, when Pope Innocent IV united various groups of hermits in service to the Universal Church as a community of Mendicant Friars.
    — Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 8 May 2025
Definition of hermit
Adjective
  • Guests are led behind a velvet curtain and through a hidden bookcase into the NAVI lounge inside Post Oak Hotel, the only Forbes Five-Star hotel in Texas.
    — Lanee Lee, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025
  • The only other company that has achieved that is chip maker Nvidia, which did earlier this month to become the first company ever to top $4 trillion.
    — Medora Lee, USA Today, 31 July 2025
Definition of only
Adjective
  • Support individual stems with single bamboo stakes; multiple stems may benefit from a grow-through grid or tomato cage.
    — Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 July 2025
  • For a single taxpayer, the 12% tax rate applied on taxable income from $11,926 through $48,475 in 2025.
    — Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 14 July 2025
Definition of single
Adjective
  • Drinkwater didn't make one appearance in a Chelsea shirt last season, whilst Bakayoko spent the season in Italy on loan at AC Milan.
    — SI.com, SI.com, 3 Aug. 2019
  • Decisions made by engineers today, in other words, will determine not how one car drives but how all cars drive.
    — Johannes Himmelreich, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Mar. 2018
Definition of one
Adjective
  • The exhibition, which originated at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and is on view through August 10 at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, would have been the Smithsonian’s first solo presentation of a contemporary Black artist.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 25 July 2025
  • Last but not least, luxe hostels are a solid option that appeal to people of all ages, from families to solo travelers.
    — Sarah Sekula, USA Today, 25 July 2025
Definition of solo
Adjective
  • Seely is survived by numerous friends, family members, and her special cat, Corrie.
    — Lauren Huff Published, EW.com, 2 Aug. 2025
  • And anyone that pre-orders, will get a special Day One bonus slip-cover for their case.
    — David Jagneaux, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025
Definition of special

Browse Nearby Words

solitariness
solitary
solitude
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Cite this Entry

“Solitary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/solitary. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.

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