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
The true essence of ‘art’ emerges not only in solitary moments with my guitar, but in the connections forged through the music. Heide Janssen, Oc Register, 20 Apr. 2025 And then there’s Bill Dillon, who wrote his first song on a roll of toilet paper after being hosed down and sent to solitary back in the 1980s. Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 17 Apr. 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
Adjective
  • Eichel’s lone hat trick of the season came on March 25 at Xcel Energy Center in a 5-1 win over the Wild.
    Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Coogler wrote Remmick as an empathetic and charismatic villain — so much so that IndieWire critic David Ehrlich’s lone knock on the film is that, by design, the darkness of the vampires is more about the fun of being alive than the usual horror movie terror.
    Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 19 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Community service for an increasingly lonely, isolated society?
    Nate Rogers, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025
  • According to recent Gallup data, approximately 20% of U.S. adults report feeling lonely every day.
    Dominique Fluker, Essence, 21 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Sure, the $150,000 price tag might make your wallet wince, but for the chance to be a high-tech hermit with all the comforts of home?
    Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, FOXNews.com, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Sure, the $150,000 price tag might make your wallet wince, but for the chance to be a high-tech hermit with all the comforts of home?
    Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, FOXNews.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The only deal that Netanyahu would view as acceptable is a Libya-style nuclear deal.
    Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2025
  • At the end of round 1, with Ward (No. 1 to the Tennessee Titans) and Jaxson Dart (No. 25 to the New York Giants) being the only quarterbacks selected, Sanders’ father, Deion, posted a video of Shedeur addressing the slide.
    Jayna Bardahl, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Each plane has four single suites and four side-by-side suites, two of each at the front of each business class cabin.
    Zach Wichter, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025
  • And others fear the learning curve will slow them down during critical production phases or that relying too heavily on technology creates single points of failure.
    Allison Begalman, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2025
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
Adjective
  • The island feels calmer and cleaner, now attracting a wider mix of visitors: honeymooners, families and solo travelers alike.
    Livia Hengel, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Jin was the seventh, and final, member of BTS to release a full solo LP and his second album will drop while ARMY awaits word on when the full band will reunite following a nearly three-year hiatus to allow its members to complete mandatory South Korean military service.
    Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Then, the employee might be eligible for a special tax break known as net unrealized appreciation (NUA) that involves taking a lump sum distribution of the stock and rolling over the rest of the 401(k) to an IRA.
    Bob Carlson, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025
  • Frazier and Hassanein can be early reserves, while safety Dan Jackson and wide receiver Dominic Lovett can be special teams contributors.
    Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Solitary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/solitary. Accessed 1 May. 2025.

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