separate 1 of 2

adjective

ˈse-p(ə-)rət How to pronounce separate (audio)
Definition of separatenext
1
as in different
not the same or shared we stayed in separate apartments on our vacation

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in single
not physically attached to another unit the housing development has 200 separate homes, each with its own enclosed yard

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3
as in independent
not being under the rule or control of another the former Soviet republic is now a separate country

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in personal
of, relating to, or belonging to a single person the husband and wife each have separate interests

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

separate

2 of 2

verb

ˈse-pə-ˌrāt How to pronounce separate (audio)
1
as in to divide
to set or force apart we tried to separate the gluey pages, but they were stuck tight

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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

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3
as in to classify
to arrange or assign according to type separate the students by reading ability

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4
as in to isolate
to set or keep apart from others separated the injured calf from the herd

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5
as in to differentiate
to understand or point out the difference in trying to separate science from religion on one specific point

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6
as in to split
to cause (people) to break up into opposing groups The controversy separated the company's leadership into competing sides.

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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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of separate
Adjective
The Old Farmers' Almanac — a separate weather forecasting publication — forecasts a mild and dry winter for Michigan. —Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 11 Nov. 2025 The idea is that Refashion can curtail the need to create two separate garments that risk becoming part of the waste stream. —Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 11 Nov. 2025
Verb
Andres’ mother separated from his father and began seeing a man who took in Andres. —Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 5 Nov. 2025 Those things should not be separated from each other. —Alison Herman, Variety, 5 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for separate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for separate
  1. different
  2. single
  3. independent
  4. personal
  5. divide
  6. part
  7. classify
  8. isolate
Adjective
  • And to get to play these characters that are layered and complex and multidimensional is really fun — anything where there's a public and a private life, and a secret, and different elements at play, and having to keep different balls in the air is really fulfilling and fun.
    — Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Each box of pods follows the same format as their whole bean deliveries, single origin from a range of different coffee-producing countries and ready to drop right into a Keurig machine.
    — Noah Kaufman, Bon Appetit Magazine, 7 Nov. 2025
Definition of different
Adjective
  • Sales prices of single-family homes across Ohio decreased by 2% from a median of $250,011 in July to $245,017 in August.
    — USA TODAY Network, Cincinnati Enquirer, 12 Nov. 2025
  • Resources are local and vary from a single module to several resources.
    — CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 11 Nov. 2025
Definition of single
Adjective
  • The government denies the assertion by Imamoglu and the CHP that the case against him is politically driven and says that Turkey’s courts are independent.
    — Reuters 17 hr ago, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2025
  • Written by Agnieszka Holland, the drama was made for less than $1 million and distributed by independent film company Vestron Pictures.
    — Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 11 Nov. 2025
Definition of independent
Adjective
  • The resulting four-bedroom, three-bathroom residence feels both layered and deeply personal.
    — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 12 Nov. 2025
  • La Santa passed Wednesday’s callback inspection after the rodents either moved to new housing, gone on vacation or were more subtle about their personal waste disposal.
    — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 11 Nov. 2025
Definition of personal
Verb
  • Qianlong took a page from the design of private gardens in southern China to make the layout more compact, and divided the site into four connected courtyards, two of which are currently open to the public, from south to north.
    — Fred He, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Engineers divide conventional aircraft into three main lightning zones.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2025
Definition of divide
Verb
  • Here, Kardashian’s hair was parted down the middle and braided over and over again in a bun down the back of her head.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 11 Nov. 2025
  • Her hair was styled in bouncy waves, and parted on the side.
    — Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 11 Nov. 2025
Definition of part
Verb
  • The ratings group classifies 17 Republican Senate seats as solid Republican, with only two likely Republican and one as leans Republican.
    — Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Furthermore, policymakers and procurement officials now classify technologies by urgency.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2025
Definition of classify
Verb
  • Difficult Amazon logistics is no excuse Another challenge to vaccinating indigenous groups is the complicated logistics of getting shots to their territories, which are often isolated and hard to reach.
    — Adriana Brasileiro, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
  • And that’s what people want at the end of the day, is someone to resonate with and not feel so alone and isolated in this world.
    — McKinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 7 Nov. 2025
Definition of isolate

Browse Nearby Words

separable
separate
separated
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Cite this Entry

“Separate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/separate. Accessed 18 Nov. 2025.

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