Hermit

easyNeutral tone

HER-mit

noun

Definition

A person living in solitude, especially for religious reasons

Memory hook

HER-MIT: she MET no one because she lives alone — a person who withdraws from society.

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Word roots

eremitesdesert dweller(Greek)

Learning roots unlocks whole word families. Study common GRE root words.

Examples

The hermit lived alone in the mountains for decades.
After his retirement, he became something of a hermit.

Test yourself

Fill in the blank with the right word:

The ______ lived alone in the mountains for decades.
Show answer

hermit

Synonyms

Antonyms

socialiteextrovertgregarianbon vivant

Categories

View all Solitude words

GRE Tip

Hermit is a easy-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "recluse" or "anchorite" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "socialite".

Read: How to Memorize GRE Words That Actually Stick

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