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

The near-death experience forces her to confront her sense of isolation out in the prairie, where life is defined by subsistence. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 3 July 2026

These cowboy songs were meant to soothe restless cattle during the night or break the monotony of isolation. — Ted Olson, The Conversation, 2 July 2026

Scammers often use isolation tactics in phone calls to panic the listener and rush them into making irrational choices that often have financial costs. — Ella Moore july 2, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026

However, strict immigration rules, the country’s geographic isolation, and the steep costs of relocating mean only wealthy Americans can realistically make the move. — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 2 July 2026