Definition of SOLITUDE

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 ferry offers a kind of solitude because of the small number of people’ A New York Ferry employee stands on the deck, waiting for commuters to board one morning in January. — Alexander Cohn, WSJ, "Diehard New York City Ferry Riders Go With the Flow, Even in the Frigid Winter," 28 Feb. 2019 To me, embracing my solitude means to embrace myself. — Sarah Bahbah, Teen Vogue, "Noah Centineo Stars in New Sarah Bahbah Photo Series," 29 Aug. 2018 Photo: Michael Hitoshi/Getty Autophobia—Fear of Being Alone Autophobia is a morbid and persistent fear of loneliness or solitude. — Alexandra Gekas, Woman's Day, "10 Fascinating Phobias," 14 Sep. 2010 Idle time and solitude are to be sought, not feared. — Jim Michaels, WSJ, "When It Comes to Retirement, I’m With Cicero," 11 Jan. 2019 Toronto’s newest attraction seemed destined to end up in the dignified solitude of a tycoon’s country home, somewhere behind the stables, perhaps. — Max Maeckler, Vogue, "Bjarke Ingels’s Serpentine Pavilion Is on a World Tour: First Stop, Toronto," 24 Sep. 2018 Chris Paddack prepared a mix of hip-hop, country music and the solitude of silence for the 5 1/2-hour trek, mostly along Interstate 10. — Jeff Sanders, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Padres prospect Chris Paddack 'better now' as he restarts career in Lake Elsinore," 23 May 2018 The word Bespoke conjures images of a master tailor toiling in solitude, fashioning a garment to his customer's specifications and measurements. — Sam Dangremond, Town & Country, "Custom 2.0," 15 Jan. 2014 The stacks look like small shrines to mountain solitude, carefully balanced at the edge of a precipice. — Casey Newton, The Verge, "How Kevin Hart tweeted himself out of a job hosting the Oscars," 8 Dec. 2018

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.