solitude

sol·i·tude | \ ˈsä-lə-ˌtüd

How to pronounce solitude (audio)

, -ˌtyüd \

Definition of solitude

1 : the quality or state of being alone or remote from society : seclusion

2 : a lonely place (such as a desert)

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Choose the Right Synonym for solitude

solitude, isolation, seclusion mean the state of one who is alone. 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 isolation stresses detachment from others often involuntarily. the isolation of the village in winter 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

Examples of solitude in a Sentence

She wished to work on her novel in solitude. He enjoyed the peace and solitude of the woods.

Recent Examples on the Web The recent ubiquitous media presence of California Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris reveals the solitude of black women at top of politics. — Kellie Hwang, SFChronicle.com, "Bay Briefing: Learning to coexist with coronavirus," 22 June 2020 Others, most notoriously the maverick Canadian genius Glenn Gould, have shunned the limelight to pursue icy perfection in solitude. — The Economist, "Crossover stars Vikingur Olafsson is revitalising classical music," 16 June 2020 Healing and inspiration come through solitude today. — BostonGlobe.com, "Horoscope," 13 June 2020 Consider working in solitude to achieve your dreams. — oregonlive, "Horoscope for June 11, 2020: Happy birthday Adrienne Barbeau; Cancer, trust your intuition," 11 June 2020 Her solitude, which the author captures with both empathy and humor, makes her susceptibility to obsessive thinking all the more believable. — Annabel Gutterman, Time, "Murder, Mystery and Make Believe in Ottessa Moshfegh’s Death in Her Hands," 11 June 2020 Practicing, long an activity completed in solitude, with only a metronome and tuner as company, has now become its own sort of performance. — Jacob Sweet, The New Yorker, "Bassoonfluencers: The World of Instagram Practice Accounts," 6 June 2020 Buckles is a short hike after a long drive, a place of solitude and source for solace. — Matt Wyatt, ExpressNews.com, "Pagosa Springs: Gateway to San Juan Mountains and base camp for anglers," 6 June 2020 In that night of solitude, sports went beyond mere entertainment and became a realm in which anything seemed possible. — Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY, "Why do I love sports? Because in 1985, Villanova's perfect game toppled the Georgetown dynasty," 4 June 2020

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

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Last Updated

25 Jun 2020

Cite this Entry

“Solitude.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/solitude. Accessed 4 Jul. 2020.

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