Synonyms of solitude

solitude

noun

ˈsä-lə-ˌtüd 

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

• privacy
• isolation
• loneliness
• aloneness
• seclusion
• segregation
• solitariness
• separateness
• insulation
• confinement
• sequestration
• retirement
• internment
• secludedness
• lonesomeness
• vacuum
• withdrawal
• quarantine
• incarceration
• ghettoization

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• society
• companionship
• company
• fellowship
• camaraderie
• comradeship

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

Recent Examples of solitude

Doomsday synths and a percussive heartbeat backdrop lyrics that bask in solitude and beckon toward death. —Olivier Lafontant, Pitchfork, 31 Jan. 2025

Balance between solitude and socializing: everyday solitude time both benefits and harms well-being Morgan Ross PLOS One. —Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 25 Jan. 2025

Having the chance to witness one of their favorite artists in the flesh and not just through intense moments of solitude must have been especially poignant. —Britt Julious, Chicago Tribune, 7 Feb. 2025

The quiet solitude of having a whole mountain to yourself is truly an unmatched experience — not to mention getting first tracks all day long. —Kale Williams, Axios, 7 Feb. 2025