1
as in lone
not being in the company of others
a single lonely cactus in the desert
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in lonesome
sad from lack of companionship or separation from others
I was lonely when I first got to Los Angeles, but I soon made friends
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in bleak
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer
the lonely streets of a honky-tonk beach town in the off-season
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lonely
To me, being a refugee meant being eternally lonely.
—
Ashoka,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2026
But the often lonely nature of working from home can take a toll on mental health, according to new research from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
—
The Week Us,
TheWeek,
25 June 2026
The good news is that Pinyon likely won't be lonely much longer.
—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
24 June 2026
In the summer of 1969, Richard Brody was eleven, freshly transported from city life to the Long Island suburbs, and immensely lonely.
—
Willing Davidson,
New Yorker,
23 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for lonely
Ashoka,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2026
But the often lonely nature of working from home can take a toll on mental health, according to new research from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
—
The Week Us,
TheWeek,
25 June 2026
The good news is that Pinyon likely won't be lonely much longer.
—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
24 June 2026
In the summer of 1969, Richard Brody was eleven, freshly transported from city life to the Long Island suburbs, and immensely lonely.
—
Willing Davidson,
New Yorker,
23 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for lonely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lonely
Adjective
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The van’s windows were smashed and a lone orange traffic cone sat on the hood.
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While South Africa and Ivory Coast thus far are the lone CAF squads to get bounced from the knockout stage, an impressive nine of 10 CAF squads made it to the knockout stage.
Adjective
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Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman was the lonesome dove.
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Sure, Cline is from Virginia, but the country singer’s bold and lonesome voice seems to embody the state’s bold and lonesome landscape.
Adjective
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Houssem Aouar finally spied a gap in the Austrian defence and sent Mahrez through to score, sparking jubilation before Sasa Kalajdzic’s header confirmed a ridiculous ending to a game that was dramatic, bleak and then dramatic again.
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Kehoe pointed to the state’s bleak finances in a statement explaining his cuts on Tuesday.
Adjective
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Keep a distance from tall, solitary trees or other elevated structures.
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These solitary, nonaggressive bees use small pieces of leaves to build their nests, causing only cosmetic harm to the plant.
Adjective
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Walking around the tiny outpost offers an understanding of just how vast and desolate this arid part of the country can be.
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In the summer it had been packed with people out on the streets, by the fall is was desolate.
Adjective
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The top-of-the-line chef’s kitchen sports metallic cabinetry paired with dark marble countertops and backsplashes.
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These include rolled or folded leaf blades, a dark or blue tinge to the foliage, or lingering footprints after walking on the lawn.
Adjective
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Two double bedrooms and a single bedroom are tucked at the end of the main floor, and are adjoined by a large outdoor terrace.
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Six days after the Yankees' first 15 batters couldn't get a hit off Bennett, the lanky left-hander retired the Angels' first 13 batters before Vaughn Grissom's fifth-inning single.
Adjective
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England reached stumps on 103-4 after 15 overs, still needing 270 runs in its seemingly forlorn chase of 373 to win on a deteriorating pitch and heading for a first defeat in a home series of three or more tests since 2012.
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Before pushing the film into its final forlorn section, the excitement that something sexy might happen charges the actors.
Cite this Entry
“Lonely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lonely. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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