separate 1 of 2

1
as in different
not the same or shared we stayed in separate apartments on our vacation

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
4

separate

2 of 2

verb

1
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
4
5
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
Also located in Roan Hills is the community’s first Bark Park, a furry-friend oasis with separate areas for small and large dogs to play. Calesa Township, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2025 Taiwan, under President Lai Ching-te, has asserted its sovereignty in new and destabilizing ways, casting its political system as separate from and threatened by the mainland’s. Stephen Wertheim, Foreign Affairs, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
Couples who choose to sleep apart can still nurture connection and intimacy by sharing an evening wind-down routine before heading off to separate sleeping arrangements, Troxel suggested. Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2025 What separates them from ordinary companies isn’t better strategy. Big Think, 29 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for separate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for separate
Adjective
  • The characters are all different, but the contrast in personalities was similar.
    Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025
  • Lee made a video about the clear-shoe trend, adopted by the likes of Simone Rocha and Loewe for spring 2026; Loewe layered socks of different colors with transparent kitten heels.
    Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • For players, the potential advantages include a much larger accessible library, the combination of local hardware, cloud, and PC options in a single device, and stronger peripheral and mod support typical of Windows.
    Alex Harrington, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Oct. 2025
  • It’s built to resist pesky tangles, power through daily messes with super-strong suction, and run up to 50 minutes on a single charge.
    Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The McClatchy Commerce Content team, which is independent from our newsroom, oversees this content.
    Calesa Township, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2025
  • Then, as president, Joe Biden twice said that the people of Taiwan should decide whether to be independent.
    STEPHEN WERTHEIM, Foreign Affairs, 28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The alternative story of Helen’s Egyptian detour invites a more critical examination of the relationship between war and story by highlighting the degree to which humans have been conditioned by a narrative that presents war as the ultimate stage for personal and national glory.
    Elizabeth D. Samet, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
  • On a personal note, Variety even led me to the love of my life.
    William Earl, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The move is, of course, dividing Americans, with some people arguing that every president makes changes to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
    Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
  • In this stratified society, citizens are divided into seven status levels that determine every aspect of their lives — from housing to occupation to food rations.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Her glam was also a nod to Old Hollywood, as the star rocked a bold red lip and smokey eye, paired with her blonde bombshell curls parted on the side.
    Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Daedone persuaded the swelling ranks of OM enthusiasts, givers and receivers alike, to join an experiment in communal living, gradually parting them from their wealth and autonomy.
    Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services reports that about 35% of adults in the state are classified as obese, placing it among 19 states with obesity prevalence at or above that level.
    Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 30 Oct. 2025
  • However, not every smaller tyrannosaur skeleton should be classified as Nanotyrannus, according to Brusatte.
    Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Heavy snow and strong winds could impact major routes, isolate higher-elevation communities, and create hazardous conditions for early-season recreation.
    Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
  • It was observed in thousands of troops during the Korean War, and the first species of the virus that causes it was isolated in a Korean lab in the Seventies.
    Joy Williams, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Separate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/separate. Accessed 1 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on separate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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