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

Relevance

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

My craft choices here around the music of the sentence and its visual presentation as a solitary line originate from my work in poetry. — Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026 Shortly after the news broke, Diddy was placed in solitary housing pending the outcome of an investigation into the matter. — Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 8 Oct. 2026

Noun

However, Local Law 42, the law limiting solitary, requires 14 hours per day of out-of-cell time. — Graham Rayman, New York Daily News, 11 Feb. 2025 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 See All Example Sentences for solitary

Recent Examples of Synonyms for solitary

Adjective

The artist — whose real name is Olu Fann, best known as one-half of the Atlanta rap outfit Earthgang — felt that being a team player was more crucial than being the lone star.

— DeAsia Paige, AJC.com, 13 Oct. 2026
The lone game that didn't sell out, against the Toronto Tempo, drew 9,685 fans.

— Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of lone

Adjective

To profile their activity in patients with SCLC, the researchers analyzed tumor samples and non-affected biopsies from a dozen patients using single-cell RNA sequencing and immunophenotyping.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 Oct. 2026
The judge also said the impact of the White House ban goes far beyond a single reporter's ability to do their job.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of single

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

Since 2017, Dulgarian has grown TAGABOW from its placid, solo origins into one of the decade’s most influential and inventive shoegaze bands; the proof is in Lotto, their bold and relentless breakout LP from last year.

— Abby Jones, Pitchfork, 19 Oct. 2026
On September 17, Harry made his first solo appearance in public while attending the inaugural Invictus Spirit Gala Dinner and Awards in London.

— Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of solo

Adjective

The café uses a special roast from an NKC small-batch roaster called Northlandia, according to Stevie Rose, marketing specialist at Life Unlimited.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2026
The production won the Tony Award for special theatrical event.

— Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of special

Browse Nearby Words

solitariness

solitary

solitude

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Solitary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/solitary. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of solitary

adjective

noun

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

jilt

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes