alone 1 of 2

adverb

Definition of alonenext
1
as in independently
without aid or support completely new to the big city, she nevertheless managed to find her way home alone

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in only
for nothing other than would willingly play professional baseball for the sheer enjoyment alone

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

alone

2 of 2

adjective

ə-ˈlōn How to pronounce alone (audio)
1
as in lonely
not being in the company of others no one realized the boy was alone in his room so they all left for the movies without him

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in one
being the one or ones of a class with no other members he is alone among the actors of his generation in his exceptional ability to play both comedic and serious parts

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word alone distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of alone are desolate, forlorn, lonely, lonesome, lone, and solitary. While all these words mean "isolated from others," alone stresses the objective fact of being by oneself with slighter notion of emotional involvement than most of the remaining terms.

everyone needs to be alone sometimes

When can desolate be used instead of alone?

The meanings of desolate and alone largely overlap; however, desolate implies inconsolable grief at loss or bereavement.

desolate after her brother's death

When is forlorn a more appropriate choice than alone?

In some situations, the words forlorn and alone are roughly equivalent. However, forlorn stresses dejection, woe, and listlessness at separation from one held dear.

a forlorn lost child

How does the word lone relate to other synonyms for alone?

Lone may replace lonely or lonesome but typically is as objective as alone.

a lone robin pecking at the lawn

How do lonely and solitary relate to one another, in the sense of alone?

Lonely adds to solitary a suggestion of longing for companionship.

felt lonely and forsaken

In what contexts can lonesome take the place of alone?

The words lonesome and alone can be used in similar contexts, but lonesome heightens the suggestion of sadness and poignancy.

an only child often leads a lonesome life

When could solitary be used to replace alone?

While in some cases nearly identical to alone, solitary may indicate isolation as a chosen course, but more often it suggests sadness and a sense of loss.

glorying in the calm of her solitary life
left solitary by the death of his wife

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of alone
Adverb
The sumptuous beards alone are worth the watch. —Stephanie Bai, The Atlantic, 8 Feb. 2026 Take politics and race out of it, and leave the flag alone. —Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
The students aren’t alone in speaking out against ICE. —Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 12 Feb. 2026 Wembanyama had 25 points in the first quarter alone and 37 by halftime. —Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for alone
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alone
  1. independently
  2. only
  3. lonely
  4. one
  5. separately
  6. solely
  7. lone
  8. individually
Adverb
  • All products featured on Vogue are independently selected by our editors.
    — Daisy Jones, Vogue, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Our team of savvy editors independently handpicks all recommendations.
    — Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of independently
Adverb
  • The report noted the toxin is only found naturally in poison dart frogs in South America, not Russia.
    — Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 15 Feb. 2026
  • For the next five years, only one game per season was played in London, with many owners skeptical about sacrificing revenue from home games in a market dominated by the Premier League.
    — Tom Chitty, CNBC, 15 Feb. 2026
Definition of only
Adjective
  • Dementia risk goes up by 40%, diabetes risk goes up 35% from being chronically lonely.
    — Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Doing a documentary sometimes is really lonely.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 6 Feb. 2026
Definition of lonely
Adjective
  • Drinkwater didn't make one appearance in a Chelsea shirt last season, whilst Bakayoko spent the season in Italy on loan at AC Milan.
    — SI.com, SI.com, 3 Aug. 2019
  • Decisions made by engineers today, in other words, will determine not how one car drives but how all cars drive.
    — Johannes Himmelreich, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Mar. 2018
Definition of one
Adverb
  • In 2023, the firm was separately contracted to develop a linear aerospike rocket engine for a spaceplane demonstrator.
    — Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 5 Feb. 2026
  • At one point, officials claimed Fullerton fans were blowing a whistle in the stands and separately issued a yellow card on an adult on the sidelines who was not dressed in Fullerton colors and didn’t appear to be an official member of the team.
    — Martin Henderson, Oc Register, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of separately
Adverb
  • They are no longer seen solely as operators or stewards of capital.
    — Alan H.H. Fleischmann, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
  • All opinions expressed by the CNBC Pro contributors are solely their opinions and do not reflect the opinions of CNBC, or its parent company or affiliates, and may have been previously disseminated by them on television, radio, internet or another medium.
    — Jeff Kilburg, CNBC, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of solely
Adjective
  • The Hawks finished with two wins over the Heat and the Jazz, with their lone loss to the Hornets.
    — Lauren Williams, AJC.com, 9 Feb. 2026
  • When Democrats attempted to install a map drawing out the lone Republican congressman from the Old Line State during the initial redistricting period this decade, the state’s high court struck it down, resulting in the current map that maintains the lone GOP seat.
    — Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 8 Feb. 2026
Definition of lone
Adverb
  • The ad shows the new Cadillac Formula 1 vehicle being formed out of parts, all of which can be seen individually over a desert landscape.
    — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 9 Feb. 2026
  • These individually wrapped peanut butter and oat bites are a suitable lunch box treat, or fuel for people who take long bike rides and other torturous endurance sports.
    — Alex Beggs, Bon Appetit Magazine, 7 Feb. 2026
Definition of individually

Phrases Containing alone

Browse Nearby Words

aloft
alone
aloneness
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Cite this Entry

“Alone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alone. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on alone

Nglish: Translation of alone for Spanish Speakers

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