The private colleges and universities of the United States are autonomous.
Source: tatoeba (1911)
Private
/ˈpɹaɪ.vɪt/
Synonyms for "private" (403 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (81)
Noun(18 words)
a secretbackstagebackyardbehindbeing privatebuck privatecivil lawsclassifiedclosed meetingsclosetingcommon soldierconfidentialde exklusivenlisted manenlisted soldierenlisteees exclusivoexclusive deal
absolutealonealoofanonymousantisocialbehind closed doorsbuck privatecertainclandestinecloseclosetcommon soldierconcealedconcreteconfidentialconfidentiallycovertcovertlydeep seateddeep-seated
Show 14 more words
Adjective(26 words)
belonging resourcescivilian vehiclescloisteredclosetedclubbishclubby roomcomplete anonymityconfidential documentconfidential health datadedicated devicedevotional motifsexclusive accessexclusive broadcastingexclusive clubexclusive clubhouseexclusive environmentexclusive eventexclusive featureexclusive interviewexclusive item
Show 6 more words
exclusive offerexclusive reportexclusive resourcesexclusive rightsexclusive schoolexclusive story
Verb(3 words)
Strong matches (121)
Adjective(31 words)
exclusive termheimlichhidden enclavehidden modelhidden roomhidden struggleshidden traithidden voting in classhushed atmospherehushed roomindividualindividual artist paintingindividual behaviorindividual forcesindividual goalindividual motiveindividual rightsindividual valuesinner officeinternal components
Show 11 more words
intimateintimate ceremonyintimate detailsintimate friendinvitationalinvite-onlyisolated gardenisolated landscapesit esclusivoitalian segretoleast communal housing
Noun(26 words)
fr exclusifhome collectionhuman landhushidentifyingindependent schoolsindividual approachesindividual propertyindividual reasonindividual taskinnermost partinside taskinternally definedintimateisolated to selfisolationist housingkept secretlatin secretusleast communal classroomleast communals
Show 6 more words
less sharedlocal adjectivemarketing termmore concealedmore exclusivemore private
Determiner(6 words)
least communal groupsleast communal livingleast publicless communal learning trendless communal livingless communals
Adverb(12 words)
less communal activitiesless communal approachless communal decisionsless communal environmentless communal mealsless communal normsless communal projectsless communal resourcesless communal ritualsless communal settingsless communal spacesless public
Related words (201)
Noun(44 words)
more privatizedmore secretmost exclusivemost privatenon governmental postnongovernment servicenongovernmental groupnongovernmental organizationnonstate entityoffstagesold french secretout of court resolutionout of court settlementown funds statuspersonalpersonal creedpersonal experiencepersonal historypersonal qualitypoilu
Show 24 more words
private health programprivate monumentprivate sector job marketprivate spaceprivate wealthprivate-sectorprivate-sector employeeprivately ownedprivately owned housingprivileged personpt exclusivorecruitrestrictedrestricted arearomanian privatsecretsecret hiding placesecret stashsolo practicespanish secretossntrystingunsharingwere exclusive
mysticalnoncommissioned officernot for publicationnoteworthyoccultoff the recordon the slyoutsideownparticularpeculiarpersonalpersonallypreciseprivate first classprivatelyprivilegedprivyrarefiedreclusive
Show 45 more words
reservedresidentrespectiverestrictedrestrictivereticentretiredretiringsecludedseclusionseclusivesecretsecretivelysecretlysequesteredseveralsex organssingularsneakilysneakingsneakinglysolipsisticsolitaryspecialspecificsub rosasubjectivesurreptitioussurreptitiouslytommytommy atkinstop secretulteriorunalienableunchallengeableuncommunicativeundercoverundergroundundisclosedunofficialunquestionableunsociableunsocialuntoldwithdrawn
Adjective(85 words)
nl privénoncivic contextnoncommunalnongovernmentalnongovernmental programnonpublicnonsharedoffstageone on one languageone on one sessionpersonal affairspersonal beliefpersonal belongingspersonal calendarpersonal datapersonal effectspersonal gardenpersonal importancepersonal informationpersonal interest
Show 65 more words
personal lifepersonal matterpersonal matterspersonal milestonespersonal recollectionspersonal traitpersonal usepersonal valuesportuguese segredoprivate autonomyprivate burialprivate carprivate chatprivate citizenshipprivate collectionprivate domicileprivate domicile recordsprivate educationprivate enterpriseprivate entity contractprivate establishmentprivate existenceprivate gardenprivate garden designprivate holdingsprivate matterprivate memorialprivate propertyprivate residenceprivate resourcesprivate sectorprivate sector employeeprivate soldierprivate useprivate villaprivatestprivierpriviestproprietaryquiet atmosphererestricted statussecluded areasecluded gardensecluded placesecretsecret codesensitivesensitive historysensitive information redactionseparate roomseparate trialsolitary personsolitary studio lifesolitary tendencyunavailableundisclosed factunlistedunlisted item codeunlisted productsunlisted resourceunseenunsharedunshared evaluationunshared goalunshared input
Adverb(1 words)
Determiner(1 words)
one person task
Verb(5 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: a secret, absolute, alone, aloof, anonymous.
- Sentence evidence is available for private, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from derived_reverse, moby, wordnet, opengloss, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "private".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "private"
Keep "private" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "private" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "private", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "private" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
6 entriesMore specific
8 entriesconfidential datadrill privateinfantry privateprivate informationprivate lifeprivate propertyprivate thoughtssecret document
Collocations
11 entriesarmy privateinfantry privatelowest rankprivate dataprivate first classprivate informationprivate lifeprivate propertyprivate schoolprivate soldierprivate tutoring
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
4 entriesAntonyms
1 entriessimilar
26 entriesShowing 16 of 26 words.
Sample sentences
34 total sentences available.
I'd like to talk with you in private.
Source: tatoeba (17546)
I would prefer to speak to you in private.
Source: tatoeba (17622)
You shouldn't read people's private letters without permission.
Source: tatoeba (19385)
Showing 4 of 34 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "private"?
Closest matches include a secret, absolute, alone, aloof, anonymous.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "private"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.