Synonyms of separate

separate 1 of 2

adjective

ˈse-p(ə-)rət 

1

as in different

not the same or shared

we stayed in separate apartments on our vacation

Synonyms & Similar Words

• different
• respective
• various
• individual
• distinctive
• diverse
• distinct
• disparate
• dissimilar
• divergent
• distinguishable
• varied
• unalike

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• same
• identical
• very
• selfsame

2

as in single

not physically attached to another unit

the housing development has 200 separate homes, each with its own enclosed yard

Synonyms & Similar Words

• single
• detached
• discrete
• private
• unconnected
• free
• independent
• individual
• freestanding
• disconnected
• unattached
• self-contained

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• joined
• connected
• attached
• linked
• adjoining

3

as in independent

not being under the rule or control of another

the former Soviet republic is now a separate country

Synonyms & Similar Words

• independent
• autonomous
• sovereign
• freestanding
• free
• sovran
• democratic
• self-governing
• self-governed
• released
• self-ruling
• liberated
• freed
• redeemed
• delivered
• empowered
• emancipated
• freeborn
• unsupervised
• manumitted
• unruled
• republican
• unconquered
• enfranchised

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• subject
• dependent
• nonautonomous
• bound
• unfree
• captive
• subdued
• subordinate
• conquered
• subjugated
• enslaved
• fettered
• non-self-governing
• inferior
• subservient

4

as in personal

of, relating to, or belonging to a single person

the husband and wife each have separate interests

Synonyms & Similar Words

• personal
• subjective
• personalized
• private
• individual
• unique
• singular
• individualized
• particular
• patented
• distinctive
• privy
• idiomatic
• peculiar
• specific
• identifying
• characteristic
• intimate
• independent
• special
• specialized
• idiosyncratic
• express
• custom
• customized
• especial
• self-sufficient
• nonconformist
• self-directed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• general
• public
• universal
• generic
• popular
• broad
• shared
• common
• widespread
• prevalent
• regular
• normal
• typical
• prevailing

separate

2 of 2

verb

ˈse-pə-ˌrāt 

1

as in to divide

to set or force apart

we tried to separate the gluey pages, but they were stuck tight

Synonyms & Similar Words

• divide
• split
• disconnect
• sever
• resolve
• part
• isolate
• dissociate
• disassociate
• divorce
• detach
• pull
• decouple
• disjoint
• disunite
• uncouple
• subdivide
• disjoin
• dissever
• unlink
• ramify
• dissect
• break up
• sunder
• decompose
• fragment
• dissolve
• segment
• segregate
• partition
• cleave
• unyoke
• bifurcate
• quarter
• disintegrate
• break down
• disassemble
• fractionate
• tear
• rip
• bisect
• dichotomize
• break
• halve
• cut off
• fragmentize
• fragmentate
• rift
• insulate
• unravel
• fracture
• rupture
• fractionalize
• rend
• disentangle
• trisect
• seclude
• disengage
• rive
• untie
• sequester

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• join
• unite
• combine
• link
• unify
• mix
• blend
• couple
• assemble
• associate
• connect
• mingle
• attach
• close
• bind
• stick
• accumulate
• knit
• fuse
• fasten
• weld
• cement
• agglutinate

2

as in to part

to go or move in different directions from a central point

the searchers separated in order to cover more ground

Synonyms & Similar Words

• part
• divide
• diverge
• retreat
• fork
• spread
• branch (out)
• scatter
• distribute
• disperse
• dispel
• disband
• dissipate
• broadcast
• clear out
• sow
• bestrew
• distance
• recede
• break up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• join
• meet
• converge
• gather
• assemble

3

as in to classify

to arrange or assign according to type

separate the students by reading ability

Synonyms & Similar Words

• classify
• distinguish
• rank
• relegate
• group
• distribute
• type
• sort
• place
• categorize
• grade
• class
• file
• organize
• list
• compartmentalize
• identify
• codify
• compartment
• digest
• recognize
• range
• peg
• order
• break down
• refer
• catalog
• assort
• dispose
• index
• array
• systematize
• cull
• catalogue
• draw up
• alphabetize
• shelve
• marshall
• pigeonhole
• marshal
• clump
• reclassify
• cluster
• sift
• set
• sieve
• winnow
• screen
• regroup
• recategorize
• subcategorize
• colligate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lump
• confuse
• mix (up)
• scramble
• jumble
• disarrange
• misclassify
• mistype
• missort

4

as in to isolate

to set or keep apart from others

separated the injured calf from the herd

Synonyms & Similar Words

• isolate
• segregate
• remove
• cut off
• insulate
• restrain
• confine
• keep
• seclude
• quarantine
• sequester
• detach
• restrict
• hold
• jail
• abstract
• incarcerate
• disengage
• lock (up)
• detain
• intern
• immure

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• integrate
• join
• connect
• unite
• link
• associate
• reintegrate
• assimilate
• desegregate
• free
• release
• discharge
• liberate
• loose

5

as in to differentiate

to understand or point out the difference in

trying to separate science from religion on one specific point

Synonyms & Similar Words

• differentiate
• distinguish
• difference
• discriminate
• discern
• secern
• divide
• understand
• contradistinguish
• sever
• set off
• know
• comprehend
• part
• demarcate
• mark (off)
• grasp

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• confuse
• mix (up)
• mistake
• lump (together)
• mingle
• confound

Synonym Chooser

How is the word separate different from other adjectives like it?

The words discrete and distinct are common synonyms of separate. While all three words mean "not being each and every one the same," separate often stresses lack of connection or a difference in identity between two things.

separate rooms

When could discrete be used to replace separate?

Although the words discrete and separate have much in common, discrete strongly emphasizes individuality and lack of connection.

broke the job down into discrete stages

When would distinct be a good substitute for separate?

The meanings of distinct and separate largely overlap; however, distinct indicates that something is distinguished by the mind or eye as being apart or different from others.

two distinct versions

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of separate

Adjective

And of the approximately 100 best-selling drugs examined in a separate study covering roughly the same time period, nearly 80% received an additional patent to extend their monopoly period beyond what was originally intended. —Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025

The coed boarding school in Wiltshire is around an hour from their home in Windsor and could accommodate all three of their children, meaning no separate arrangements would need to be made for Charlotte. —John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Apr. 2025

Verb

Two years later, Neige’s sister Rose was born; and a few years after that, the girls’ parents separated. —Leslie Camhi, New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2025

Just one point separates Ajax, who won the league title last year, from the other contenders. —Tamerra Griffin, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025