solitary vs hermit

solitary and hermit both are nouns.

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

As nouns, solitary and hermit are synonyms defined as:

Other synonyms of solitary include recluse, solitudinarian, troglodyte.

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

solitary (adjective)	hermit (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