SOLITARY Synonyms: 111 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'solitary' distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of solitary are alone , desolate , forlorn , lonely , lonesome , and lone . While all these words mean "isolated from others," solitary may indicate isolation as a chosen course, but more often it suggests sadness and a sense of loss. // glorying in the calm of her solitary life // left solitary by the death of his wife

Q: When can 'alone' be used instead of 'solitary'?

The meanings of alone and solitary largely overlap; however, alone stresses the objective fact of being by oneself with slighter notion of emotional involvement than most of the remaining terms. // everyone needs to be alone sometimes

Q: In what contexts can 'desolate' take the place of 'solitary'?

The words desolate and solitary can be used in similar contexts, but desolate implies inconsolable grief at loss or bereavement. // desolate after her brother's death

Q: When is it sensible to use 'forlorn' instead of 'solitary'?

Although the words forlorn and solitary have much in common, forlorn stresses dejection, woe, and listlessness at separation from one held dear. // a forlorn lost child

Q: How does the word 'lone' relate to other synonyms for 'solitary'?

Lone may replace lonely or lonesome but typically is as objective as alone . // a lone robin pecking at the lawn

Q: How do 'lonely' and 'solitary' relate to one another?

Lonely adds to solitary a suggestion of longing for companionship. // felt lonely and forsaken

Q: When is 'lonesome' a more appropriate choice than 'solitary'?

The synonyms lonesome and solitary are sometimes interchangeable, but lonesome heightens the suggestion of sadness and poignancy. // an only child often leads a lonesome life

solitary 1 of 2

adjective

ˈsä-lə-ˌter-ē

Definition of solitary

as in lone

being the one or ones of a class with no other members a solitary example of truth-stretching is hardly grounds for branding the man a congenital liar

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in lonely

not being in the company of others a solitary sailboat was the only object on the horizon

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

solitary

2 of 2

noun

as in hermit

a person who lives away from others weary of European civilization, the painter Paul Gauguin famously abandoned France to become a solitary in the South Seas

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word solitary distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of solitary are alone, desolate, forlorn, lonely, lonesome, and lone. While all these words mean "isolated from others," solitary may indicate isolation as a chosen course, but more often it suggests sadness and a sense of loss.

glorying in the calm of her solitary life

left solitary by the death of his wife

When can alone be used instead of solitary?

The meanings of alone and solitary largely overlap; however, alone stresses the objective fact of being by oneself with slighter notion of emotional involvement than most of the remaining terms.

everyone needs to be alone sometimes

In what contexts can desolate take the place of solitary?

The words desolate and solitary can be used in similar contexts, but desolate implies inconsolable grief at loss or bereavement.

desolate after her brother's death

When is it sensible to use forlorn instead of solitary?

Although the words forlorn and solitary have much in common, forlorn stresses dejection, woe, and listlessness at separation from one held dear.

a forlorn lost child

How does the word lone relate to other synonyms for solitary?

Lone may replace lonely or lonesome but typically is as objective as alone.

a lone robin pecking at the lawn

How do lonely and solitary relate to one another?

Lonely adds to solitary a suggestion of longing for companionship.

felt lonely and forsaken

When is lonesome a more appropriate choice than solitary?

The synonyms lonesome and solitary are sometimes interchangeable, but lonesome heightens the suggestion of sadness and poignancy.

an only child often leads a lonesome life

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 solitary

Adjective

The endangered but often solitary cats are native to Southeast Asia, where their populations are declining largely because of habitat loss, the zoo said. — Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 26 Aug. 2026 The first feels rooted in youth, summer, romance and memory; after the switch, the music becomes more reflective, solitary and unsettled. — Desjah Altvater, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026

Noun

Sweat was then confined to 23-hour-a-day solitary at Five Points Correctional Center, though he was subsequently transferred to Attica Correctional after trying to bribe Five Points officials. — Kenny Herzog, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2024 Paul was sent into solitary for not having his shirt on in his cell. — David Trone, Baltimore Sun, 12 Apr. 2024 See All Example Sentences for solitary

Recent Examples of Synonyms for solitary

Adjective

Mahomes’ lone interception looked to be the result of a miscommunication with wide receiver Xavier Worthy.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 15 Sep. 2026
Koepka was the lone player to take advantage of the opportunity and met the criteria having won the 2023 PGA Championship.

— Mark Harris OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of lone

Adjective

Chronically lonely employees who struggle with social confidence may need extra support, Hadley said.

— Cordilia James, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2026
Even Stephen Curry, who transformed himself into an NBA all-time great through endless lonely work on his shooting, had recently asked Tiafoe the question in a casual chat.

— Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of lonely

Noun

Late in the novel, Noa, Nicole, and their newfound compatriots get into a van with a group of musical hermits who have fled to the mountains to escape the violence of Ecuadorian society.

— Robert Rubsam, New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2026
The area was also chosen by artistic hermit squatters, known as Dunnites, who lived around nearby Oceano and Nipomo in the 1930s.

— Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026

Definition of hermit

Adjective

The three were leaders of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, which for three decades organized a Tiananmen vigil that was the only large-scale, public commemoration of the 1989 crackdown in China.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Sep. 2026
According to William, the only way his dad could uncoil his nerves was with a joint.

— Stephen Rodrick, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of only

Adjective

Drinkwater didn't make one appearance in a Chelsea shirt last season, whilst Bakayoko spent the season in Italy on loan at AC Milan.

— SI.com, SI.com, 3 Aug. 2019
Decisions made by engineers today, in other words, will determine not how one car drives but how all cars drive.

— Johannes Himmelreich, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Mar. 2018

Definition of one

Adjective

Ian is a longtime New Yorker with a special perspective on this day.

— Chris Branch, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
From the street, there doesn’t seem to be anything too special about 281 Greene Avenue, in Clinton Hill, especially compared with the stately, stand-alone 19th-century mansions a few blocks west.

— Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of special

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solitariness

solitary

solitude

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“Solitary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/solitary. Accessed 16 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of solitary

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noun

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