Synonyms of seclusion

seclusion

noun

si-ˈklü-zhən 

as in solitude

the state of being alone or kept apart from others

she went into seclusion in order to focus entirely on writing her book

Synonyms & Similar Words

• solitude
• privacy
• isolation
• loneliness
• segregation
• aloneness
• separateness
• insulation
• solitariness
• sequestration
• confinement
• secludedness
• retirement
• internment
• vacuum
• withdrawal
• quarantine
• lonesomeness
• incarceration
• ghettoization

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• society
• companionship
• company
• fellowship
• camaraderie
• comradeship

Synonym Chooser

How is the word seclusion distinct from other similar nouns?

The words isolation and solitude are common synonyms of seclusion. While all three words mean "the state of one who is alone," seclusion suggests a shutting away or keeping apart from others often connoting deliberate withdrawal from the world or retirement to a quiet life.

lived in pastoral seclusion

Where would isolation be a reasonable alternative to seclusion?

The synonyms isolation and seclusion are sometimes interchangeable, but isolation stresses detachment from others often involuntarily.

the isolation of the village in winter

When would solitude be a good substitute for seclusion?

The words solitude and seclusion are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, solitude may imply a condition of being apart from all human beings or of being cut off by wish or circumstances from one's usual associates.

a few quiet hours of solitude

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of seclusion

Thousands of times a year in Michigan schools, students who are considered a potential danger to themselves and others — many of them children with disabilities — are physically restrained or put in seclusion. — CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026

Cut off from the rest of Virgin Gorda and accessible only by boat and helicopter, its supreme seclusion is a part of its unending appeal. — Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 13 Aug. 2026

An outdoor water feature, al fresco dining area, and fire pit complete the property, which, despite its seclusion, is conveniently located near Park City’s Main Street and the area’s ski resorts. — Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 12 Aug. 2026

Not all retreats are monastic, and seclusion can easily nourish a hothouse of gossip. — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026