hermit vs solitary

hermit and solitary both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
hermit	Yes	No	No	No
solitary	Yes	Yes	No	No

As nouns, hermit and solitary are synonyms defined as:

Other synonyms of hermit include recluse, solitudinarian, troglodyte.

hermit (noun)	solitary (noun)
one who lives in solitude	one who lives in solitude
one retired from society for religious reasons	confinement of a prisoner in isolation from other prisoners

hermit (adjective)	solitary (adjective)
	being the only one; single and isolated from others
	lacking companions or companionship
	of plants and animals; not growing or living in groups or colonies
	devoid of creatures
	characterized by or preferring solitude