SOLITARY Synonyms: 111 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: How do 'lonely' and 'solitary' relate to one another?

Lonely adds to solitary a suggestion of longing for companionship. // felt lonely and forsaken

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

solitary 1 of 2

adjective

ˈsä-lə-ˌter-ē

Definition of solitary next

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

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

How is the word solitary distinct from other similar adjectives?

glorying in the calm of her solitary life

left solitary by the death of his wife

When can alone be used instead of solitary?

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

While gray squirrels are solitary, flying squirrels may live in colonies of four to five squirrels. —

Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2026 Identifying Wasps The thousands of wasp species in the Vespidae family are divided into solitary or social categories. —

Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 5 Mar. 2026

Noun

Paul was sent into solitary for not having his shirt on in his cell. —

David Trone, Baltimore Sun, 12 Apr. 2024 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 See All Example Sentences for solitary

Recent Examples of Synonyms for solitary

Adjective

Velasquez did even better, stringing together nine straight winning seasons that included a program-record 33 wins in 2021-22, three of the program’s four regional titles and its lone sectional title in 2022-23.

— Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
The Cardinal lost their lone meeting against West Virginia in 1959 in Los Angeles.

— Laurence Miedema, Mercury News, 17 Mar. 2026

Definition of lone

Browse Nearby Words

solitariness

solitary

solitude

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“Solitary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/solitary. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.

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Last Updated: 17 Mar 2026 - Updated example sentences

Synonyms of solitary

adjective

noun

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