lonelier; loneliest
1
2
: not frequented by human beings : desolate
a lonely spot in the woods
3
: sad from being alone : lonesome
He was feeling lonely without his wife and children.
4
: producing a feeling of bleakness or desolation
it's a lonely thing to be a champion—
G. B. Shaw
G. B. ShawExamples of lonely in a Sentence
He was lonely without his wife and children.
She was a lonely child with few friends.
It was lonely living out in the country.
She spent too many lonely nights at home.
She had a lonely childhood.
a lonely spot in the woods
a lonely stretch of road
Recent Examples on the Web
When this puzzle started, its comment section was often empty or lonely.
—Mark Cooper, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
Those who perceive this total control are prone to paranoia, leaving them mistrustful and lonely, while those who seek to profit from it are dragged into depravity.
—Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
This can feel so lonely cause we're told not to share about this.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2025
Described as a redemption drama, Laya follows a young woman who drifts from place to place carrying an unresolved anger from the loss of her father at a young age, until her path crosses with a lonely ex-criminal, also haunted by shadows from the past.
—Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lonely
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Mark Cooper, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
Those who perceive this total control are prone to paranoia, leaving them mistrustful and lonely, while those who seek to profit from it are dragged into depravity.
—Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
This can feel so lonely cause we're told not to share about this.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2025
Described as a redemption drama, Laya follows a young woman who drifts from place to place carrying an unresolved anger from the loss of her father at a young age, until her path crosses with a lonely ex-criminal, also haunted by shadows from the past.
—Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lonely
Cite this Entry
“Lonely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lonely. Accessed 26 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
lonely
adjective
lone·ly
ˈlōn-lē 
lonelier; loneliest
loneliness
noun
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