lonely

adjective

ˈlōn-lē How to pronounce lonely (audio)
Definition of lonelynext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word lonely distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of lonely are alone, desolate, forlorn, lonesome, lone, and solitary. While all these words mean "isolated from others," lonely adds to solitary a suggestion of longing for companionship.

felt lonely and forsaken

When is it sensible to use alone instead of lonely?

In some situations, the words alone and lonely are roughly equivalent. However, 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 could desolate be used to replace lonely?

The synonyms desolate and lonely are sometimes interchangeable, but desolate implies inconsolable grief at loss or bereavement.

desolate after her brother's death

Where would forlorn be a reasonable alternative to lonely?

The words forlorn and lonely are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 lonely?

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

a lone robin pecking at the lawn

In what contexts can lonesome take the place of lonely?

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

an only child often leads a lonesome life

When would solitary be a good substitute for lonely?

While the synonyms solitary and lonely are close in meaning, 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 lonely Steak lovers in Pleasant Ridge just got a little lonelier. —Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer, 10 Sep. 2025 His work in those early days bears little resemblance to the crystalline large-format portraits of lonely American landscapes that would come to define his career. —Chris Wiley, New Yorker, 9 Sep. 2025 Quarterback is an isolating and lonely position, despite entire infrastructures reverse-engineered in service of those who play it, to say nothing of the elaborate playbooks created for them. —Seth Wickersham, The Atlantic, 8 Sep. 2025 So much of The Baltimorons turns on a dime, but these two lonely souls slowly come to appreciate being together. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lonely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lonely
  1. lone
  2. lonesome
  3. bleak
  4. solitary
  5. desolate
  6. dark
  7. single
  8. forlorn
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
Adjective
  • Dude can’t carry the Rams to the postseason again all by his lonesome.
    — Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 19 Aug. 2025
  • Dylan took the exit on the county line and pulled into the lonesome border truck stop, pissed in the bathroom, paid for Bob’s coffee with cream and with sugar and took out three hundred dollars at the ATM.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2025
Definition of lonesome
Adjective
  • Not all of Mythopedia is so bleak—just my favorite parts.
    — Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
  • When kittens Sam and Frodo were found, survival odds were bleak.
    — Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Sep. 2025
Definition of bleak
Adjective
  • Keep a distance from tall, solitary trees or other elevated structures.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Each breeding season, male leopard seals dive beneath the ice and repeat long, solitary sequences of five distinct call types for hours on end.
    — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 11 Sep. 2025
Definition of solitary
Adjective
  • The lock screen on the Mac remains a desolate place, relative to the same area in both iOS and iPadOS—this is still a no-notifications, no-widgets zone that exists only to keep your Mac locked.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 15 Sep. 2025
  • While the rest of Burning Man celebrated, Kruglov lay prostrate on the ground at a faraway campsite in a comparatively desolate section of Black Rock City, his throat slashed, as a puddle of blood congealed around his lifeless body.
    — Denver Nicks, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2025
Definition of desolate
Adjective
  • The night serum visibly smooths wrinkles, reduces fine lines, and soothes the appearance of dark circles and uneven skin tone.
    — Gabriela Izquierdo, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2025
  • The scent is smoky yet sweet, spicy yet smooth, dark but with an underlying lightness—the result of combining clean white musk with rose, tobacco, suede, and cumin.
    — Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
Definition of dark
Adjective
  • These acts are punishable crimes, and every single threat will be met with the full force of the law.
    — Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 17 Sep. 2025
  • The Midong solar project is the world's largest single-solar power producer, potentially generating enough electricity for 5 million households.
    — Jeff Young, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
Definition of single
Adjective
  • The facts present a forlorn and foreboding portrait of the Rockies’ starting pitching.
    — Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 31 Aug. 2025
  • Often, Andor and Klára stare at each other in mutual, forlorn incomprehension, each seeking and failing to find a mirror in the other’s gaze.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 28 Aug. 2025
Definition of forlorn

Browse Nearby Words

loneliness
lonely
loner
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Cite this Entry

“Lonely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lonely. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.

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