Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

separate

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of separate

1 not the same or shared
  • We stayed in separate apartments on our vacation.
Synonyms of separate

different, individual, respective
Words Related to separate

disparate, dissimilar, distinct, distinctive, distinguishable, divergent, diverse, unalike, varied, various
Near Antonyms of separate

identical, selfsame, very
Antonyms of separate

same
2 not physically attached to another unit
  • The housing development has 200 separate homes, each with its own enclosed yard.
Synonyms of separate

detached, disconnected, discrete, free, freestanding, single, unattached, unconnected
Words Related to separate

independent, self-contained

individual, private
Near Antonyms of separate

adjoining
Antonyms of separate

attached, connected, joined, linked
3 not being under the rule or control of another
  • The former colony became a separate country.
Synonyms of separate

autonomous, free, freestanding, independent, self-governed, self-governing, self-ruling, sovereign (also sovran)
Words Related to separate

freeborn

delivered, emancipated, freed, liberated, manumitted, redeemed, released

unconquered, unruled, unsupervised

empowered, enfranchised

democratic, republican
Near Antonyms of separate

bound, captive, conquered, enslaved, fettered, subdued, subjugated

inferior, subordinate, subservient
Antonyms of separate

dependent, nonautonomous, non-self-governing, subject, unfree
4 of, relating to, or belonging to a single person
  • The siblings each have separate interests.
Synonyms of separate

idiomatic, individual, individualized, particular, patented, peculiar, personal, personalized, private, privy, singular, subjective, unique
Words Related to separate

characteristic, distinctive, intimate

identifying, idiosyncratic

especial, express, special, specific

independent, nonconformist, self-directed, self-sufficient

custom, customized, specialized
Near Antonyms of separate

broad, prevailing, prevalent, widespread

common, normal, regular, typical
Antonyms of separate

general, generic, popular, public, shared, universal

Synonym Discussion of separate

distinct, separate, discrete mean not being each and every one the same. distinct indicates that something is distinguished by the mind or eye as being apart or different from others.
    • two distinct versions
separate often stresses lack of connection or a difference in identity between two things.
    • separate rooms
discrete strongly emphasizes individuality and lack of connection.
    • broke the job down into discrete stages

separate

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of separate

1 to set or force apart
  • We tried to separate the gluey pages, but they were stuck tight.
Synonyms of separate

break up, disassociate, disconnect, disjoin, disjoint, dissever, dissociate, disunite, divide, divorce, part, ramify, resolve, sever, split, sunder, uncouple, unlink, unyoke
Words Related to separate

break down, decompose, disassemble, disintegrate, dissolve

bisect, cleave, dissect, halve, partition, quarter, segment, subdivide, trisect

break, fracture, pull, rend, rift, rip, rive, rupture, tear

cut off, insulate, isolate, seclude, segregate, sequester

detach, disengage, disentangle, unravel, untie
Near Antonyms of separate

assemble, associate, blend, combine, mingle, mix

connect, couple

accumulate, agglutinate, attach, bind, cement, close, fasten, fuse, knit, stick, weld
Antonyms of separate

join, link, unify, unite
2 to go or move in different directions from a central point
  • The searchers separated in order to cover more ground.
Synonyms of separate

branch (out), diverge, divide, fork, part, spread
Words Related to separate

bestrew, break up, broadcast, clear out, disband, dispel, disperse, dissipate, distribute, scatter, sow

distance, recede, retreat
Near Antonyms of separate

assemble, gather, meet
Antonyms of separate

converge, join
3 to arrange or assign according to type
  • separated the students by age
Synonyms of separate

assort, break down, categorize, class, classify, codify, compartment, compartmentalize, digest, distinguish, distribute, grade, group, peg, place, range, rank, relegate, sort, type
Words Related to separate

array, dispose, draw up, marshal (also marshall), order, organize, systematize

alphabetize, catalog (or catalogue), file, index, list, refer

pigeonhole, shelve

identify, recognize

cull, screen, set, sieve, sift, winnow

clump, cluster

recategorize, reclassify, regroup

subcategorize
Near Antonyms of separate

confuse, disarrange, jumble, lump, mix (up), scramble

misclassify, missort, mistype
4 to set or keep apart from others
  • separated the injured calf from the herd
Synonyms of separate

cut off, insulate, isolate, seclude, segregate, sequester
Words Related to separate

quarantine

confine, immure, incarcerate, intern, jail, lock (up), restrain, restrict

abstract, detach, disengage, remove

detain, hold, keep
Near Antonyms of separate

assimilate, associate, connect, join, link, unite

discharge, free, liberate, loose, release
Antonyms of separate

desegregate, integrate, reintegrate
5 to understand or point out the difference in
  • trying to separate fact from fiction on one specific point
Synonyms of separate

difference, differentiate, discern, discriminate, distinguish
Words Related to separate

contradistinguish

comprehend, grasp, know, understand

divide, part, sever

demarcate, mark (off), set off
Near Antonyms of separate

confound, lump (together), mingle
Antonyms of separate

confuse, mistake, mix (up)

Synonym Discussion of separate

separate, part, divide, sever, sunder, divorce mean to become or cause to become disunited or disjointed. separate may imply any of several causes such as dispersion, removal of one from others, or presence of an intervening thing.
    • separated her personal life from her career
part implies the separating of things or persons in close union or association.
    • vowed never to part
divide implies separating into pieces or sections by cutting or breaking.
    • civil war divided the nation
sever implies violence especially in the removal of a part or member.
    • a severed limb
sunder suggests violent rending or wrenching apart.
    • a city sundered by racial conflict
divorce implies separating two things that commonly interact and belong together.
    • cannot divorce scientific research from moral responsibility

Learn More about separate

  1. See words that rhyme with separate Dictionary: Definition of separate Medical Dictionary: Definition of separate Spanish Central: Translation of separate Nglish: Translation of separate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of separate for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up separate? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games