Isolation (Noun)
Meaning 1
The act of isolating something; setting something apart from others.
Classification
Nouns denoting acts or actions.
Examples
- The new virus required isolation from the rest of the population to prevent its spread.
- She chose isolation as a way to focus on her writing without any distractions.
- The tiny village was protected from invaders through its isolation deep in the mountains.
- The city's unique ecosystem was preserved by its isolation on a small island.
- Lack of resources led to the isolation of the stranded explorers from the outside world.
Synonyms
Meaning 2
A feeling of being disliked and alone.
Classification
Nouns denoting feelings and emotions.
Examples
- The new employee felt a deep sense of isolation from her coworkers, who seemed to exclude her from all social interactions.
- After a bitter argument, Sarah found herself in a state of isolation, with none of her friends willing to talk to her.
- He felt like he was living in isolation, with no one to share his thoughts or feelings with.
- As a teenager, he struggled with feelings of isolation, unable to relate to his classmates or find common ground.
- The long period of unemployment had left her in a state of emotional isolation, feeling cut off from the world and its opportunities.
Hypernyms
Meaning 3
A state of separation between persons or groups.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Examples
- The quarantine measures led to a period of isolation for the infected patient, who was kept away from the rest of the hospital.
- The remote village was a place of isolation, where the residents rarely interacted with outsiders.
- The artist's decision to live in isolation allowed her to focus on her work without distractions.
- The country's isolation from the rest of the world had hindered its economic development for decades.
- The social isolation of the elderly woman was a concern for her family, who made sure to visit her regularly.
Hyponyms
- Estrangement
- Anomy
- Insularism
- Privateness
- Insularity
- Concealment
- Detachment
- Secrecy
- Solitariness
- Purdah
Related Words
Meaning 4
A country's withdrawal from international politics; "he opposed a policy of American isolation".
Classification
Nouns denoting acts or actions.
Examples
- The president's foreign policy decisions have been criticized for promoting American isolation and harming international relationships.
- In the years leading up to the war, the country adopted a policy of economic isolation that limited trade with other nations.
- Many politicians feared that isolation from Europe would hurt the nation's economy and weaken its diplomatic influence.
- After years of participation in global politics, the nation shifted towards isolation under a new administration that favored nationalist policies.
- The trend of globalization and economic interconnectedness is putting an end to isolation and reclusive stances by even the most solitary countries.
Hypernyms
Meaning 5
(psychiatry) a defense mechanism in which memory of an unacceptable act or impulse is separated from the emotion originally associated with it.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Examples
- The patient's use of isolation as a defense mechanism allowed her to recall the traumatic event without feeling the intense anxiety that was originally associated with it.
- After witnessing the accident, the witness used isolation to disconnect the memory of the event from the feelings of horror and guilt that accompanied it.
- The therapist noted that the patient's ability to discuss the abuse without displaying emotion was an example of isolation, a common defense mechanism in cases of trauma.
- Through the process of isolation, the individual was able to recall the painful memory of the loss without experiencing the overwhelming grief that was originally associated with it.
- The use of isolation as a defense mechanism allowed the individual to maintain a sense of emotional detachment from the traumatic event, but also prevented them from fully processing and dealing with their emotions.