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
In the end, a city-council member—the only Asian member—read the resolution aloud, alone. —Beth Lew-Williams, New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2025 This year alone, Chiu has provided more than $400,000 for the Crocker to buy 17 works, mostly from BIPOC artists. —Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Nebraska is Bruce alone with a four-track recorder whispering his despair into a microphone. —Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Sep. 2025 Poland was not alone in defending its citizens from the Russian onslaught meant for Ukraine. —Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2025 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
  • Tests were carried out independently by two separate overseas laboratories, with both reaching the same conclusion, according to Navalnaya.
    — Anna Chernova, CNN Money, 17 Sep. 2025
  • PCMag editors select and review products independently.
    — PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 17 Sep. 2025
Definition of independently
Adverb
  • The remaining 16 states have chosen a more relaxed approach, with some recommending the individual school districts decide their own policies, and others, like Puerto Rico, only requiring a policy to be formed by 2026.
    — Arthur Jones II, ABC News, 15 Sep. 2025
  • In his acceptance speech, Cooper revealed only started drama classes a couple of years ago and encouraged those watching to step out of their comfort zones.
    — Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 15 Sep. 2025
Definition of only
Adjective
  • Breaking free from the isolation tax isn’t just about feeling less lonely.
    — Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • There are a lot of lonely people out there.
    — Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 14 Sep. 2025
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
  • Instead, tickets will be sold separately with proceeds benefiting the Aztecs’ Student-Athlete Recruitment and Retention Fund for men’s basketball.
    — Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Meanwhile, a group of states led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton separately sued Google for anticompetitive and deceptive practices in its ad business.
    — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 12 Sep. 2025
Definition of separately
Adverb
  • It is concerned solely with the here-and-now, preserving the peace for just one more day, and waiting for the CCP to collapse like the imperial dynasties that ruled China before.
    — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 16 Sep. 2025
  • While detailing the first in-person meeting between her and Rodríguez, Pascal spoke about the specific rhetoric that trans actors sometimes come up against, which is that trans actors should connect with trans subjects based solely on identity, rather than the many other aspects of their humanity.
    — Mathew Rodriguez, Them., 15 Sep. 2025
Definition of solely
Adjective
  • In other instances, a lone fish can end up in its own cave.
    — Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 17 Sep. 2025
  • The lone Chelsea goal was scored by Cole Palmer (29’).
    — Manuel Veth, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Definition of lone
Adverb
  • To date, Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, New Mexico and Virginia have individually taken action to expand COVID vaccine access by allowing pharmacists to administer the vaccine under certain circumstances.
    — Jaimie Seaton, Scientific American, 17 Sep. 2025
  • The clinic considers hair transplantation not only as a technical procedure but as an aesthetic art and evaluates each patient individually.
    — Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2025
Definition of individually

Phrases Containing alone

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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 20 Sep. 2025.

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