solitude

noun

ˈsä-lə-ˌtüd How to pronounce solitude (audio)
Definition of solitudenext
as in privacy
the state of being alone or kept apart from others sought the kind of solitude where his thoughts would be his only companions

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word solitude distinct from other similar nouns?

The words isolation and seclusion are common synonyms of solitude. While all three words mean "the state of one who is alone," solitude may imply a condition of being apart from all human beings or of being cut off by wish or circumstances from one's usual associates.

a few quiet hours of solitude

When is it sensible to use isolation instead of solitude?

The words isolation and solitude are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, isolation stresses detachment from others often involuntarily.

the isolation of the village in winter

When can seclusion be used instead of solitude?

The words seclusion and solitude can be used in similar contexts, but seclusion suggests a shutting away or keeping apart from others often connoting deliberate withdrawal from the world or retirement to a quiet life.

lived in pastoral seclusion

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 solitude The Sister, Sister star met Williams after her period of solitude and self-discovery. — Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026 Stargazing, hiking, and fishing are common activities in the spring, summer, and fall, while skiers and snowshoers will have plenty of terrain and solitude for themselves in the winter. — Josh Laskin, Travel + Leisure, 3 July 2026 This town has known seasons of many stripes, from that autumn of grief after 9/11 to that spring of solitude and trepidation as COVID-19 first emerged. — ABC News, 2 July 2026 The result is an epidemic of solitude, if not loneliness; a dramatic drop in fertility; and a romantic famine across North and South America, Europe, and China. — Simon Sebag Montefiore, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for solitude
Recent Examples of Synonyms for solitude
  1. privacy
  2. isolation
  3. loneliness
  4. aloneness
Noun
  • On one hand, the arena offers a level of privacy and security few locations can match.
    — Bryan West, USA Today, 4 July 2026
  • The magnetic pull for those whose ultimate prize is privacy and connection to nature is towards gardens, forests, fields and beachfronts that stretch into the distance, delineating possibilities.
    — Nielsen Dinwoodie, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
Definition of privacy
Noun
  • Research shows that practicing mindfulness in quiet outdoor spaces lowers stress and mitigates feelings of loneliness and social isolation.
    — Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2026
  • Some express skepticism on whether James can stay patient with Dončić ball-dominant and isolation-heavy play.
    — Mark Medina, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of isolation
Noun
  • And 85% of respondents in one national survey said interacting with pets reduces loneliness.
    — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 July 2026
  • The American Kennel Club cites studies showing that dog ownership can reduce loneliness, lower stress and improve cardiovascular health.
    — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 6 July 2026
Definition of loneliness
Noun
  • But the porch light, with only one working bulb, refuses to show us the perfect curves of her aloneness.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026
  • This is a telling fantasy—to feel more content in one’s dreamed aloneness than in real society.
    — Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2025
Definition of aloneness

Browse Nearby Words

solitary
solitude
solo
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Cite this Entry

“Solitude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/solitude. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on solitude

Nglish: Translation of solitude for Spanish Speakers

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