isolate 1 of 3

noun

ˈī-sə-lət How to pronounce isolate (audio)
Definition of isolatenext
as in hermit
a person who lives away from others interpersonal relationships are very stressful for him, so he lives as a virtual isolate

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

isolate

2 of 3

verb

ˈī-sə-ˌlāt How to pronounce isolate (audio)
as in to separate
to set or keep apart from others rescuers finally reached outlying villages that had been isolated by the massive earthquake

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

isolate

3 of 3

adjective

as in isolated

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 isolate
Noun
That makes isolates 100 times faster and 10–100 times more memory-efficient than a standard container. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 6 Aug. 2026 For nearly a month leading to training camp, Tunsil isolates to focus on football. — Nicki Jhabvala, New York Times, 31 July 2026
Verb
The company has already told Dentistry IQ the issue was isolated to one batch, which gives it cover to resume without acknowledging a design flaw. — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 6 Oct. 2026 Underage drinking grips 'The Square' Underage drinking in Oxford is neither hidden nor isolated. — Kelsie Cairns, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for isolate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for isolate
  1. hermit
  2. separate
  3. isolated
  4. solitary
  5. segregate
  6. withdrawn
  7. remove
  8. insulated
Noun
  • In this hilltop beyond the realm of agriculture, the hermit has installed himself, wearing goatskins and stinking of musk.
    — Max Norman, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Late in the novel, Noa, Nicole, and their newfound compatriots get into a van with a group of musical hermits who have fled to the mountains to escape the violence of Ecuadorian society.
    — Robert Rubsam, New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of hermit
Verb
  • This is to say that the deep structure of Shift cannot be separated from the implications of permanent decline.
    — Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Top Republican lawmakers oppose the measure, claiming that separating the two votes would allow political insiders to gain leverage in the race to replace the seat.
    — Sofia Williams, Sacbee.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of separate
Adjective
  • Moisture continued to stream into the area early Wednesday, fueling showers and isolated thunderstorms that are expected to continue through the morning.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Instead of producing isolated pieces of content, communications teams should ask how each piece strengthens a larger body of knowledge.
    — Jessica Wong, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of isolated
Noun
  • United regularly exploited Everton’s 4-1-4-1 system, sending runners down the side of Garner as the solitary No 6 and freeing Rashford in his mismatch up against Rohl.
    — Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The pair would work together again on his 1975 film Le Sauvage, co-starring Yves Montand as a man living a solitary on a Caribbean island who becomes entangled with a runaway bride.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of solitary
Verb
  • Anaheim’s schools, parks and swimming pool were segregated until the 1950s.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026
  • This mismatch creates a rigid outer skin over a fluid core, causing the film to wrinkle, crack, and segregate its chemical ingredients.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of segregate
Adjective
  • In an era of ball-to-feet No 10s and withdrawn strikers, Welbeck stays high up the pitch, runs the channels and occupies defenders.
    — Liam Tharme, New York Times, 27 July 2026
  • The withdrawn earnings are taxed as ordinary income, the Treasury said.
    — Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 11 July 2026
Definition of withdrawn
Verb
  • Other organizations abandoned associations with Hastert, and his portrait was removed from a hallway outside the House chamber.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Community organizations spent decades cultivating wealthy baby boomer donors, and so that connection fades with each generation removed from the original donors.
    — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of remove
Adjective
  • Modern replacement windows may combine insulated glass, durable frames and thermal features designed to help improve indoor comfort.
    — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Also, there’s two insulated water bottle holders, a place to put your pen, a magnetic pocket for a range finder and more.
    — Langston Wertz Jr, Charlotte Observer, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of insulated

Browse Nearby Words

islets
isolate
isolated
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Isolate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/isolate. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on isolate

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about isolate

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
name tags
Words Named After People Quiz Find out who’s behind "leotard," "morphine," an...
See All