separate 1 of 2

1
as in different
not the same or shared we stayed in separate apartments on our vacation

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in single
not physically attached to another unit the housing development has 200 separate homes, each with its own enclosed yard

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3
4

separate

2 of 2

verb

1
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
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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

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 separate
Adjective
Moretti adapted Nevo’s short story collection together with co-screenwriters Federica Pontremoli and Valia Santella, intertwining the book’s separate stories about the various bonds — familial, political, social and romantic — that both restrict and liberate, into a single narrative. Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 17 June 2025 Oklahoma reached a separate $270 million settlement in 2019. Alex Sundby june 17, CBS News, 17 June 2025
Verb
To do that, head to Cape Henlopen State Park, which encompasses 5,000 acres of sand separating the Atlantic (best for sunrises) from the Delaware Bay (head here for sunsets). Tim Neville, Travel + Leisure, 15 June 2025 One component of the agreement prohibited the government from reenacting for at least eight years immigration policies that separate children and parents. Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for separate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for separate
Adjective
  • Alaa’s family, campaigners, and parliamentarians are urging the UK government to take more concrete and decisive action—to deploy new and different tools, including amending FCDO travel advice for Egypt and considering sanctions on those responsible for Alaa’s unlawful incarceration.
    Margaret Busby June 20, Literary Hub, 20 June 2025
  • New research—focusing on books rather than newspaper articles and on different companies—provides surprising insights into this question.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 20 June 2025
Adjective
  • Back on top 4-2, Castellanos made it 5-2 with a single off Garza.
    Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 21 June 2025
  • The Yankee Stadium crowd booed loudly as Gary Sanchez cruised into first base with a single into shallow center field.
    Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 21 June 2025
Adjective
  • The original plan to resolve this—to spin out OpenAI into an independent, for-profit company—was scrapped in May and replaced with a new approach, which will turn OpenAI’s for-profit group into a public benefit corporation controlled by the nonprofit.
    Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 20 June 2025
  • Read More Stephanie is an arts and culture journalist and independent dress historian based in New York City.
    Elise Taylor, Vogue, 20 June 2025
Adjective
  • The Senate’s version broadens the requirement to include parents of children older than 14, as part of their effort to combat waste in the program and push personal responsibility.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 17 June 2025
  • As a Dane yourself, are you reminded of your own personal collection with the brand?
    Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 17 June 2025
Verb
  • Annual passes, divided into four levels by benefits and the number of block-out dates, are selling for $153 and $345.
    Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 June 2025
  • Record-Low Absorption Rates Absorption rates in Florida's six bearish markets—calculated as monthly sales divided by available inventory and indicating the percentage of inventory purchased monthly—are at local lows, according to Parcl Labs, and well below the three-year average.
    Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 June 2025
Verb
  • Part two is almost contradictory to part one’s idea.
    Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 20 June 2025
  • Lily-Rose Depp Lily-Rose Depp added a touch of attitude to her overall look at the 97th annual Oscars, parting her hair on the right side of her face.
    Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 18 June 2025
Verb
  • Geomagnetic storms are classified using a G-scale, which ranks their intensity from G1 (minor) to G5 (extreme).
    Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 12 June 2025
  • One half of respondents say price increases have caused financial hardships for them or their household, with 16% classifying it as serious hardship.
    Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 12 June 2025
Verb
  • Crews isolated hotspots and began mop-up operations, while additional resources arrived to relieve initial attack personnel.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 12 June 2025
  • By design, being caught up in the flood of horrible news can feel incredibly isolating, and protests are one way to combat that.
    Nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Separate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/separate. Accessed 27 Jun. 2025.

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