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
Keep a distance from tall, solitary trees or other elevated structures. Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 28 Sep. 2025 For me personally, usually that’s just a rather solitary part of the process. Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 28 Sep. 2025
Noun
Former convicts also said that men in solitary had to put away their beds from waking call to sleep time, forcing them to stand or sit for most of the day. Anatoly Kurmanaev, New York Times, 29 Feb. 2024 The changes allow inmates in solitary to participate in additional rehabilitative programming and shave time off their isolation by earning credits. Lindsey Holden, Sacramento Bee, 31 Jan. 2024 See All Example Sentences for solitary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for solitary
Adjective
  • The team’s lone major free-agent signing in the 2020s has backfired in spectacular fashion.
    Andy McCullough, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
  • The drama follows Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland) as a detective called in to investigate the 1987 massacre of four scientists brutally murdered in inexplicable ways, with a lone survivor the obvious suspect.
    Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • In the play, Farrow played Sharon, a lonely Iowa woman – estranged from her adult son, divorced from her husband – who decides to take a boarder into her large farmhouse.
    Denise Petski, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2025
  • But on the flip side, the one tally in the win column remains lonely as the team heads into its Week 5 matchup against the Jets in New York.
    Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The cautious hermits of the KMT do not attempt to forecast the future.
    Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Riley Moss was the sociable hermit in the caverns of Iowa’s practice facility.
    Luca Evans, Denver Post, 12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • CEOs and global leaders will gather for a dynamic, invitation-only event shaping the future of business.
    Jason Ma, Fortune, 29 Sep. 2025
  • All alone in a mind-bending prison, his only chance for escape is teamwork — with himself.
    Justin Kroll, Deadline, 29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Rafaela went 0-for-2 against Fried on the night, while Sogard had a single back in the third.
    Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
  • At launch, Instant Checkout will support single-item Etsy purchases for ChatGPT Free, Plus, and Pro users.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 30 Sep. 2025
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
Adjective
  • After One Direction announced its hiatus in 2015, Tomlinson released a pair of solo albums, 2020’s Walls and 2022’s Faith in the Future, which both made the top 10 of the Billboard 200 chart.
    Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 30 Sep. 2025
  • During his brief tenure with the Dolphins, Smith racked up 21 appearances and 18 total tackles, 14 of which were solo.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The New York Knicks have a golden opportunity to do something special this season.
    Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
  • The pair both marked the milestone by sharing professional couple photos on Instagram, along with special tributes to each other.
    Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Solitary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/solitary. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.

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