solitary

1 of 2

adjective

sol·i·tary ˈsä-lə-ˌter-ē How to pronounce solitary (audio)

: being, living, or going alone or without companions

: saddened by isolation

: unfrequented, desolate

a solitary seashore

: taken, passed, or performed without companions

a solitary ramble

: keeping a prisoner apart from others

solitary confinement

: being at once single and isolated

a solitary example

: occurring singly and not as part of a group or cluster

flowers terminal and solitary

: not gregarious, colonial, social, or compound

solitary bees

solitarily

ˌsä-lə-ˈter-ə-lē How to pronounce solitary (audio)

adverb

solitariness

ˈsä-lə-ˌter-ē-nəs How to pronounce solitary (audio)

noun

solitary

2 of 2

noun

plural solitaries

: one who lives or seeks to live a solitary life : recluse

: solitary confinement in prison

put him in solitary

Example Sentences

Adjective He took a solitary walk on the beach. A solitary house stood on top of the cliff. Most cats are solitary creatures. He's a very solitary man. Noun The prisoner was kept in solitary. weary of European civilization, the painter Paul Gauguin famously abandoned France to become a solitary in the South Seas See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The case against Masters, who spent years in solitary confinement, was built on the testimony of several other inmates, and on notes outlining the attack that were found in Masters’ handwriting.

Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2022 Rajabian was arrested in 2013, put in solitary confinement for three months, released on bail and arrested again in 2015 for recording an album titled The History of Iran Narrated By Setar (a lute-like instrument used in traditional Persian music).

Frank Digiacomo, Billboard, 8 Sep. 2022 In solitary confinement, human touch becomes as precious as water in the desert.

James Burns, The New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2022 Until the recent settlement of a lawsuit, which accused the state of Florida of inhumanely subjecting death row inmates to solitary confinement, inmates spent their time alone, able to talk to nearby inmates only through the bars of their cells.

David Fleshler, Sun Sentinel, 3 Sep. 2022 The question of how to continue after a life-altering loss is examined but unresolved, and the narrator returns at the end to his solitary existence in Florida with a sense of his grief renewed, and of gratitude for it.

Alan Hollinghurst, The New York Review of Books, 3 Aug. 2022 They can also be housed with other inmates after being held in solitary cells on Death Row.

Bob Egelko, San Francisco Chronicle, 31 Jan. 2022 Outside of interacting with the players, the guards’ existence has a very high-tech prison feel, with scanned masks, no-nonsense gray walls, and solitary cells.

Quinci Legardye, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2021 Even more so for an 82-year-old who has spent three decades living a solitary existence on a paradise island.

Silvia Marchetti, CNN, 25 Sep. 2021

Noun

With its sprawling freeways and solitary, car-centric culture, Los Angeles is not known as an easy place to make friends.

Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2022 Witnesses at the hearing told the committee that any time in solitary can be life-altering.

NBC News, 28 Apr. 2022 Witnesses at the hearing told the committee that any time in solitary can be life-altering.

Annie Waldman, ProPublica, 28 Apr. 2022 How has your thinking about reading as a solitary or a social act evolved during this time?

Eve Bowen, The New York Review of Books, 5 Mar. 2022 In retaliation, Cohen says he was sent back to prison and spent 16 days in solitary until a federal judge intervened.

Dan Berman, CNN, 12 Feb. 2022 Machen’s father was an impecunious clergyman, his mother an invalid, and their son a solitary but not lonely child.

Michael Dirda, The New York Review of Books, 28 May 2020 As an interesting side note, this little pirate ship included the solitary (and sometimes cantankerous) engineer, Steve Anderson, who produced Ford police packages, under the glamorous banner DSO, for Dealer Special Order.

Mark Ewing, Forbes, 15 Apr. 2021 While one solitary dropped shot left him just three shots shy of Justin Rose in the lead, the emotions were too much for Kim.

Ben Morse, CNN, 9 Apr. 2021 See More

solitary 1 of 2

adjective

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

lone
only
one
unique
single
singular
sole
alone
special
distinctive
solo
distinct
sui generis
one-off
unaccompanied
peerless
matchless
unattended
unsurpassable
incomparable
individual
inimitable
unparalleled
unequaled
unrivaled
separate
unequalled
unsurpassed
unmatched
unrivalled
nonce

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

multifarious
myriad
miscellaneous
mixed
varied
heterogenous
promiscuous
assorted
manifold
recurrent
prevalent
popular
perennial
motley
rampant
prevailing
patchwork
divers
repeated

as in lonely

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

lone
lonely
single
solo
alone
lonesome
unaccompanied
isolated
secluded
separated
friendless
isolate
deserted
abandoned
cloistered
on one's own
retired
hermetic
unattended
unchaperoned
withdrawn
detached
segregated
sequestered
disassociated
divided
separate
insulated
unconnected
forlorn
hermetical
remote
neglected
unattached
forsaken
disjointed
forgotten
dissociated
quarantined
disconnected
unlinked
adrift
disunited
lorn
fractionated
desolate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

accompanied
adjacent
contiguous
attended
adjoining
neighboring
connected
coupled
attached
communicating
chaperoned
escorted
linked
next-door

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

hermit
recluse
anchorite
eremite
isolate
homebody
shut-in

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

socialite
socializer

Synonym Chooser

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

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

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

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

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

a lone robin pecking at the lawn

Lonely adds to solitary a suggestion of longing for companionship.

felt lonely and forsaken

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

单词	solitary
释义	solitary 1 of 2 adjective sol·i·tary ˈsä-lə-ˌter-ē 1 a : being, living, or going alone or without companions b : saddened by isolation 2 : unfrequented, desolate a solitary seashore 3 a : taken, passed, or performed without companions a solitary ramble b : keeping a prisoner apart from others solitary confinement 4 : being at once single and isolated a solitary example 5 a : occurring singly and not as part of a group or cluster flowers terminal and solitary b : not gregarious, colonial, social, or compound solitary bees solitarily ˌsä-lə-ˈter-ə-lē adverb solitariness ˈsä-lə-ˌter-ē-nəs noun solitary 2 of 2 noun plural solitaries 1 : one who lives or seeks to live a solitary life : recluse 2 : solitary confinement in prison put him in solitary Synonyms Adjective alone lone one one-off only singular sole special sui generis unique Noun anchorite eremite hermit isolate recluse See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Adjective He took a solitary walk on the beach. A solitary house stood on top of the cliff. Most cats are solitary creatures. He's a very solitary man. Noun The prisoner was kept in solitary. weary of European civilization, the painter Paul Gauguin famously abandoned France to become a solitary in the South Seas See More Recent Examples on the Web Adjective The case against Masters, who spent years in solitary confinement, was built on the testimony of several other inmates, and on notes outlining the attack that were found in Masters’ handwriting. Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2022 Rajabian was arrested in 2013, put in solitary confinement for three months, released on bail and arrested again in 2015 for recording an album titled The History of Iran Narrated By Setar (a lute-like instrument used in traditional Persian music). Frank Digiacomo, Billboard, 8 Sep. 2022 In solitary confinement, human touch becomes as precious as water in the desert. James Burns, The New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2022 Until the recent settlement of a lawsuit, which accused the state of Florida of inhumanely subjecting death row inmates to solitary confinement, inmates spent their time alone, able to talk to nearby inmates only through the bars of their cells. David Fleshler, Sun Sentinel, 3 Sep. 2022 The question of how to continue after a life-altering loss is examined but unresolved, and the narrator returns at the end to his solitary existence in Florida with a sense of his grief renewed, and of gratitude for it. Alan Hollinghurst, The New York Review of Books, 3 Aug. 2022 They can also be housed with other inmates after being held in solitary cells on Death Row. Bob Egelko, San Francisco Chronicle, 31 Jan. 2022 Outside of interacting with the players, the guards’ existence has a very high-tech prison feel, with scanned masks, no-nonsense gray walls, and solitary cells. Quinci Legardye, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2021 Even more so for an 82-year-old who has spent three decades living a solitary existence on a paradise island. Silvia Marchetti, CNN, 25 Sep. 2021 Noun With its sprawling freeways and solitary, car-centric culture, Los Angeles is not known as an easy place to make friends. Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2022 Witnesses at the hearing told the committee that any time in solitary can be life-altering. NBC News, 28 Apr. 2022 Witnesses at the hearing told the committee that any time in solitary can be life-altering. Annie Waldman, ProPublica, 28 Apr. 2022 How has your thinking about reading as a solitary or a social act evolved during this time? Eve Bowen, The New York Review of Books, 5 Mar. 2022 In retaliation, Cohen says he was sent back to prison and spent 16 days in solitary until a federal judge intervened. Dan Berman, CNN, 12 Feb. 2022 Machen’s father was an impecunious clergyman, his mother an invalid, and their son a solitary but not lonely child. Michael Dirda, The New York Review of Books, 28 May 2020 As an interesting side note, this little pirate ship included the solitary (and sometimes cantankerous) engineer, Steve Anderson, who produced Ford police packages, under the glamorous banner DSO, for Dealer Special Order. Mark Ewing, Forbes, 15 Apr. 2021 While one solitary dropped shot left him just three shots shy of Justin Rose in the lead, the emotions were too much for Kim. Ben Morse, CNN, 9 Apr. 2021 See More Word History Etymology Adjective Middle English, solitarie, from Anglo-French, from Latin solitarius, from solitas aloneness, from solus alone First Known Use Adjective 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Noun 15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Phrases Containing solitary solitary confinement solitary confinement Kids Definition solitary adjective sol·i·tary ˈsä-lə-ˌter-ē 1 : all alone : without anyone or anything else a solitary traveler 2 : seldom visited : lonely a solitary seashore 3 : growing or living alone : not one of a group or cluster solitary insects Medical Definition solitary adjective sol·i·tary ˈsäl-ə-ˌter-ē : occurring singly and not as part of a group a solitary lesion solitary 1 of 2 adjective 1 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 lone only one unique single singular sole alone special distinctive solo distinct sui generis one-off unaccompanied peerless matchless unattended unsurpassable incomparable individual inimitable unparalleled unequaled unrivaled separate unequalled unsurpassed unmatched unrivalled nonce Antonyms & Near Antonyms multifarious myriad miscellaneous mixed varied heterogenous promiscuous assorted manifold recurrent prevalent popular perennial motley rampant prevailing patchwork divers repeated See More 2 as in lonely not being in the company of others a solitary sailboat was the only object on the horizon Synonyms & Similar Words lone lonely single solo alone lonesome unaccompanied isolated secluded separated friendless isolate deserted abandoned cloistered on one's own retired hermetic unattended unchaperoned withdrawn detached segregated sequestered disassociated divided separate insulated unconnected forlorn hermetical remote neglected unattached forsaken disjointed forgotten dissociated quarantined disconnected unlinked adrift disunited lorn fractionated desolate Antonyms & Near Antonyms accompanied adjacent contiguous attended adjoining neighboring connected coupled attached communicating chaperoned escorted linked next-door See More 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 hermit recluse anchorite eremite isolate homebody shut-in Antonyms & Near Antonyms socialite socializer Synonym Chooser 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 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 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 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 Lone may replace lonely or lonesome but typically is as objective as alone. a lone robin pecking at the lawn Lonely adds to solitary a suggestion of longing for companionship. felt lonely and forsaken 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
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solitary

adjective

noun

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing solitary

Kids Definition

adjective

Medical Definition

adjective

adjective

noun

Synonym Chooser