Solitary

/ˈsɑlɪˌtɛɹi/

Synonyms for "solitary" (243 found)

Ranked by relevance and common usage.

Closest matches (49)

Strong matches (73)

Adjective(27 words)
hermithermiticinmateisolatedisolated areaisolated exampleisolated incidentisolated itemisolated learnersisolated lifeisolated nodeisolated nodesisolated personisolated regionisolated scienceisolated systemisolated teachingisolated topicsisolated workleast communal trait
Show 7 more words
Noun(9 words)
hermitisolated part productisolated partsleast communal classroomleast communal environmentleast communal patternleast communalsless communal behaviorlone ranger
Verb(1 words)
Determiner(1 words)
least communal living
Adverb(2 words)
less communal environmentless communal meals

Related words (121)

Noun(17 words)
more solomost asocialmost isolatedmost singletonone-organismreclusesingle lifesingle-organism observationsocial withdrawalsolitary confinementsolitudinariansolo actsolo artistsolo performancesolo piecetroglodyteunaccompanied flight
Adjective(22 words)
narrative lonelinessnon groupnongregariousnonsocialonlyprisonerprivate arearecluserestrictedsecludedseclusivesinglesolesolo businesssolo effortsolo recitalunaccompanied actunfrequentedunmatchedunmated
Show 2 more words
Determiner(1 words)
one performer piece
Verb(2 words)
secludingtake a solo
Adjective(1 words)

Choosing the right synonym

  • Closest matches in this entry: alone, lone, a certain, abandoned, alien.
  • Sentence evidence is available for solitary, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
  • Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, 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 "solitary".
  • Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.

When not to replace "solitary"

Keep "solitary" 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 "solitary" 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 "solitary", 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 "solitary" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.

Related word relations

OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.

6 relation types

More general

10 entries
beingconfinementdescriptive termhumanlone handlone wolflonerpersonprisoner

More specific

9 entries

Collocations

7 entries
solitary beesolitary confinementsolitary figuresolitary islandsolitary lifesolitary personsolitary traveler

Inflections

3 entries
more solitarymost solitarysolitaries

Derivations

3 entries

similar

5 entries

Sample sentences

25 total sentences available.

Tatoeba + Wiktionary

He likes to take a solitary walk.

Source: tatoeba (293720)

I like a solitary walk.

Source: tatoeba (293732)

She lives a solitary life in a remote part of Scotland.

Source: tatoeba (310991)

She led a solitary life.

Source: tatoeba (313521)

Showing 4 of 25 available sentences.

Common questions

What are the closest synonyms for "solitary"?

Closest matches include alone, lone, a certain, abandoned, alien.

How should I check whether a synonym fits "solitary"?

Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.

More for "solitary"