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 location's isolation complicated the response and prompted a multiagency operation involving the FBI, Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office, Shasta County Sheriff's Office and other law enforcement partners. — David Benda, USA Today, 18 July 2026

Political division, economic uncertainty, social isolation, distrust in institutions, fears of the impact of technology — the list of concerns goes on. — Stacey Gillett, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2026

Dancing in a group also offers significant psychological benefits, fostering socialization and combatting isolation and stress. — Francesca Martinengo, Vanity Fair, 17 July 2026

Franklin Graham, president and CEO of Samaritan’s Purse, confirmed the workers are being held for the standard 21-day isolation period. — Dragana Jovanovic, ABC News, 17 July 2026