solitary

adjective

sol·i·tary | \ ˈsä-lə-ˌter-ē

Definition of solitary

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : being, living, or going alone or without companions

b : saddened by isolation

2 : unfrequented, desolate a solitary seashore

3a : taken, passed, or performed without companions a solitary ramble

b : keeping a prisoner apart from others solitary confinement

4 : being at once single and isolated a solitary example

5a : occurring singly and not as part of a group or cluster flowers terminal and solitary

b : not gregarious, colonial, social, or compound solitary bees

solitary

noun

plural solitaries

Definition of solitary (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : one who lives or seeks to live a solitary life : recluse

2 : solitary confinement in prison put him in solitary

Other Words from solitary Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about solitary

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Other Words from solitary

Adjective

solitarily \ ˌsä-lə-ˈter-ə-lē

\ adverb

solitariness \ ˈsä-lə-ˌter-ē-nəs

\ noun

Choose the Right Synonym for solitary

Adjective

alone, solitary, lonely, lonesome, lone, forlorn, desolate mean isolated from others. 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 solitary may indicate isolation as a chosen course glorying in the calm of her solitary life but more often it suggests sadness and a sense of loss. left solitary by the death of his wife lonely adds to solitary a suggestion of longing for companionship. felt lonely and forsaken lonesome heightens the suggestion of sadness and poignancy. an only child often leads a lonesome life lone may replace lonely or lonesome but typically is as objective as alone. a lone robin pecking at the lawn forlorn stresses dejection, woe, and listlessness at separation from one held dear. a forlorn lost child desolate implies inconsolable grief at loss or bereavement. desolate after her brother's death

Examples of solitary in a Sentence

Adjective

He took a solitary walk on the beach. A solitary house stood on top of the cliff. Most cats are solitary creatures. He's a very solitary man.

Noun

The prisoner was kept in solitary. weary of European civilization, the painter Paul Gauguin famously abandoned France to become a solitary in the South Seas

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

Since the midterms, in which many suburban voters turned against the president, the Democrats’ solitary political strategy has been that Mr. Trump would self-destruct.... — Daniel Henninger, WSJ, "Trump Flipped the Opposition," 6 Feb. 2019 The new movie Arctic, out February 1, opens with the main character already several weeks into a solitary subsistence. — Kevin Dupzyk, Popular Mechanics, "8 Essential Tips from 'Arctic,' the Best Survival Movie in Years," 1 Feb. 2019 Manning, who’s now 31, spent a substantial amount of time in solitary confinement before her trial, in addition to years in prison afterwards. — Lucy Diavolo, Teen Vogue, "Chelsea Manning Has Been Imprisoned for Resisting a Grand Jury Investigation. Here’s Why She Should Be Freed," 11 Mar. 2019 Setchell points out how much social variability exists just within the great apes: gorilla groups are often based around just one male; male chimps form coalitions; and orangutans are solitary. — Cathleen O'grady, Ars Technica, "Gorillas that are great with kids are also luckier in love," 18 Oct. 2018 Toth had previously observed that smaller males spent more time in their roosts, which tended to be solitary, and sang more frequently. — Katherine J. Wu, Smithsonian, "Like Birds, Some Bats Warble to Woo Their Mates," 13 June 2018 While solitary confinement is, of course, necessary in certain circumstances, its misuse can cause mental and physical damage that has been well documented. — Theresa Vargas, Washington Post, "‘No relief in sight’: Hundreds of Virginia inmates languish in solitary confinement for years, groups find.," 22 May 2018 These octopuses are solitary and occasionally cannibalistic. — National Geographic, "Deepest Octopus Nursery Discovered, Holds Dark Secret," 20 Apr. 2018 His previous studio, in Bay View, was too solitary for an artist who thrives on collaborative work. — Tom Daykin, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Milwaukee's Wheelhouse creates hub for small businesses operated by young entrepreneurs," 9 Feb. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

SOLITARY: INSIDE RED ONION STATE PRISON (2017) 10 p.m. on HBO. — Kathryn Shattuck, New York Times, "What’s on TV Monday: ‘Finding Dory’ and ‘Gender Revolution: A Journey With Katie Couric’," 6 Feb. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'solitary.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.