solitude, isolation, seclusion 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 solitudeisolation stresses detachment from others often involuntarily.
the isolation of the village in winter 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
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With its prefix se-, "apart", seclusion has the basic meaning of a place or condition that's "closed away". A lone island may be secluded, and its seclusion might be what its owner prizes most about it. Presidents and their staffs may go into seclusion before making critical decisions. Monastery life is purposely secluded, and monks may have taken vows to live lives of seclusion. The deadly brown recluse spider prefers seclusion but is sometimes disturbed by very unlucky people.
Examples of seclusion in a Sentence
the seclusion of women that occurs in some countries
I enjoyed the seclusion of the island.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'seclusion.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.