Synonyms of isolation

isolation

noun

ˌī-sə-ˈlā-shən 

as in solitude

the state of being alone or kept apart from others

after the long book tour, the author looked forward to the isolation of his office

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonym Chooser

How is the word isolation distinct from other similar nouns?

The words seclusion and solitude are common synonyms of isolation. While all three words mean "the state of one who is alone," isolation stresses detachment from others often involuntarily.

the isolation of the village in winter

In what contexts can seclusion take the place of isolation?

The synonyms seclusion and isolation are sometimes interchangeable, but 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

When might solitude be a better fit than isolation?

While the synonyms solitude and isolation are close in meaning, 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 isolation

Clinics and home users also turn to OPUS, Sound Oasis and the Vibrapod isolation accessory, while multi-modality pods like the ReGen Pod stack vibration with red light and PEMF in a single enclosure. — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 10 July 2026

Compounding all four is a growing mental health burden, particularly where substance use, isolation and lack of services are more pronounced. — Sas Mukherjee, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

Ultimately, Fashion Forward operates on the belief that the future of creativity cannot be built in isolation. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 9 July 2026

Cruise ship medical centers are designed to evaluate passengers quickly, and following isolation recommendations helps protect everyone else on board. — Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 9 July 2026