Synonyms of separate

separate 1 of 2

adjective

ˈse-p(ə-)rət 

1

as in different

not the same or shared

we stayed in separate apartments on our vacation

Synonyms & Similar Words

• different
• respective
• various
• individual
• distinctive
• diverse
• distinct
• disparate
• dissimilar
• divergent
• distinguishable
• varied
• unalike

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• same
• identical
• very
• selfsame

2

as in single

not physically attached to another unit

the housing development has 200 separate homes, each with its own enclosed yard

Synonyms & Similar Words

• single
• detached
• discrete
• private
• unconnected
• free
• independent
• individual
• freestanding
• disconnected
• unattached
• self-contained

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• joined
• connected
• attached
• linked
• adjoining

3

as in independent

not being under the rule or control of another

the former Soviet republic is now a separate country

Synonyms & Similar Words

• independent
• autonomous
• sovereign
• freestanding
• free
• democratic
• self-governing
• self-governed
• liberated
• self-ruling
• released
• freed
• redeemed
• delivered
• empowered
• emancipated
• freeborn
• unsupervised
• republican
• manumitted
• unruled
• unconquered
• enfranchised

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• subject
• dependent
• nonautonomous
• bound
• unfree
• captive
• subdued
• subordinate
• conquered
• subjugated
• enslaved
• fettered
• non-self-governing
• inferior
• subservient

4

as in personal

of, relating to, or belonging to a single person

the husband and wife each have separate interests

Synonyms & Similar Words

• personal
• subjective
• personalized
• private
• individual
• unique
• singular
• individualized
• particular
• patented
• distinctive
• privy
• idiomatic
• peculiar
• specific
• identifying
• characteristic
• intimate
• independent
• special
• specialized
• idiosyncratic
• express
• custom
• customized
• especial
• self-sufficient
• nonconformist
• self-directed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• general
• public
• universal
• generic
• popular
• broad
• shared
• common
• widespread
• prevalent
• regular
• normal
• typical
• prevailing

separate

2 of 2

verb

ˈse-pə-ˌrāt 

1

as in to divide

to set or force apart

we tried to separate the gluey pages, but they were stuck tight

Synonyms & Similar Words

• divide
• split
• disconnect
• sever
• resolve
• part
• isolate
• dissociate
• disassociate
• divorce
• detach
• pull
• decouple
• disjoint
• disunite
• uncouple
• disjoin
• subdivide
• dissever
• unlink
• ramify
• dissect
• break up
• sunder
• decompose
• fragment
• dissolve
• segregate
• segment
• cleave
• partition
• unyoke
• bifurcate
• quarter
• disintegrate
• break down
• disassemble
• fractionate
• rip
• tear
• bisect
• dichotomize
• break
• halve
• cut off
• fragmentize
• fragmentate
• rift
• insulate
• unravel
• fracture
• rupture
• fractionalize
• rend
• disentangle
• trisect
• seclude
• disengage
• rive
• untie
• sequester

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• join
• unite
• combine
• link
• unify
• mix
• blend
• couple
• assemble
• associate
• connect
• mingle
• attach
• close
• bind
• stick
• accumulate
• knit
• fuse
• fasten
• weld
• cement
• agglutinate

2

as in to part

to go or move in different directions from a central point

the searchers separated in order to cover more ground

Synonyms & Similar Words

• part
• divide
• diverge
• retreat
• fork
• spread
• branch (out)
• scatter
• distribute
• disperse
• dispel
• disband
• dissipate
• broadcast
• clear out
• sow
• bestrew
• distance
• recede
• break up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• join
• meet
• converge
• gather
• assemble

3

as in to classify

to arrange or assign according to type

separate the students by reading ability

Synonyms & Similar Words

• classify
• distinguish
• rank
• relegate
• group
• distribute
• type
• sort
• place
• categorize
• grade
• class
• file
• organize
• list
• compartmentalize
• identify
• codify
• digest
• recognize
• range
• peg
• compartment
• order
• break down
• refer
• catalog
• assort
• dispose
• index
• array
• systematize
• cull
• draw up
• alphabetize
• shelve
• marshal
• clump
• cluster
• reclassify
• sift
• set
• pigeonhole
• sieve
• winnow
• screen
• regroup
• recategorize
• subcategorize
• colligate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lump
• confuse
• mix (up)
• scramble
• jumble
• disarrange
• misclassify
• mistype
• missort

4

as in to isolate

to set or keep apart from others

separated the injured calf from the herd

Synonyms & Similar Words

• isolate
• segregate
• remove
• cut off
• insulate
• restrain
• confine
• keep
• seclude
• quarantine
• sequester
• detach
• restrict
• hold
• jail
• abstract
• incarcerate
• disengage
• lock (up)
• detain
• intern
• immure

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• integrate
• join
• connect
• unite
• link
• associate
• reintegrate
• assimilate
• desegregate
• free
• release
• discharge
• liberate
• loose

5

as in to differentiate

to understand or point out the difference in

trying to separate science from religion on one specific point

Synonyms & Similar Words

• differentiate
• distinguish
• difference
• discriminate
• discern
• secern
• understand
• divide
• contradistinguish
• sever
• set off
• know
• comprehend
• part
• demarcate
• mark (off)
• grasp

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• confuse
• mix (up)
• mistake
• lump (together)
• mingle
• confound

6

as in to split

to cause (people) to break up into opposing groups

The controversy separated the company's leadership into competing sides.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• split
• divide
• polarize
• splinter
• fragment
• fracture
• alienate
• estrange
• antagonize
• embitter
• disaffect
• disgruntle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unite
• unify
• reconcile
• harmonize
• coalesce
• consolidate
• concentrate
• conciliate

Synonym Chooser

How is the word separate different from other adjectives like it?

The words discrete and distinct are common synonyms of separate. While all three words mean "not being each and every one the same," separate often stresses lack of connection or a difference in identity between two things.

separate rooms

When could discrete be used to replace separate?

Although the words discrete and separate have much in common, discrete strongly emphasizes individuality and lack of connection.

broke the job down into discrete stages

When would distinct be a good substitute for separate?

The meanings of distinct and separate largely overlap; however, distinct indicates that something is distinguished by the mind or eye as being apart or different from others.

two distinct versions

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of separate

Adjective

Wilmington voters also decided on four separate referendums on whether to uphold the rezoning of four rural residential sites to light industrial sites to accommodate data center construction. — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2026

Mortgage rates moved slightly higher to start this week, according to a separate survey by Mortgage News Daily. — Diana Olick, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2026

Verb

This waste will be separated into bags, rather than leaving it loose in the aisles, where it often gets contaminated before it can be collected. — Bella Webb, Vogue, 5 Nov. 2026

Although Glover shared the extraordinary journey with three fellow astronauts, the four of them were separated from the rest of humanity by hundreds of thousands of miles. — Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 5 Nov. 2026