1
as in just
for nothing other than
you're doing that only to annoy me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
1
as in excellent
having no equal or rival for excellence or desirability
the only way to really appreciate the beauty of the forest is to walk through it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in one
being the one or ones of a class with no other members
that is the only possible right answer we were the only passengers on the tour bus
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of only
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2025
Shakti Prana, for example, is a new lodge reachable only by foot.
—Katie Lockhart, Travel + Leisure, 14 Sep. 2025
D. T. Max, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
Because only parts of the skeletons were blackened, the scientists ruled out that the bones were burned during cremation attempts.
—Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for only
Adverb
Boiling should only be used with natural fabrics like cotton because the heat can damage or melt synthetics.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2025
Shakti Prana, for example, is a new lodge reachable only by foot.
—Katie Lockhart, Travel + Leisure, 14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Above them loomed the Nativity façade, the only one that Gaudí had come close to finishing.
—D. T. Max, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
Because only parts of the skeletons were blackened, the scientists ruled out that the bones were burned during cremation attempts.
—Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for only
Recent Examples of Synonyms for only
Adverb
-
The bodies of the three Decker children were discovered just days after they were reported missing by their mother on May 30.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
19 Sep. 2025
-
The ship, enemy, and mecha design are also all top-notch, and just feel very ‘90s in execution.—
Ollie Barder,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
Brian Lockwood has had plenty on his plate lately.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
12 Sep. 2025
-
While calls outnumber puts on an absolute basis, the rate of put buying has picked up lately.—
Schaeffer's Investment Research,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
For ardent fans, a team’s defeat triggers the same neural pathway activated when witnessing a spouse break a leg, yet the source is merely a sports game, devoid of any actual tangible pain.—
Richard Menger MD MPA,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
This emulator can also account for how predictions will shift if parameters are merely tweaked by tiny amounts.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Shaw and Harry Maguire were excellent.—
Mark Critchley,
New York Times,
21 Sep. 2025
-
And this does bode well for interior roominess, which is quite accommodating up front for a variety of heights and body types—plus tremendously comfortable standard sport bucket seats with excellent bolstering.—
Peter Nelson,
Forbes.com,
20 Sep. 2025
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
Conjunction
-
But scientists and doctors say things aren’t that simple — and a belief that exposing children to marijuana, either directly or indirectly, is harmless isn’t supported by the facts.—
Daniel M. Jimenez,
The Cannifornian,
22 June 2017
-
But with a full and volatile season behind them, the two have grown closer, prompting check-ins from Bradford last month, seeking tidbits from his coach who watched OTA practices on a tablet from his Kentucky retreat.—
Chad Graff,
Twin Cities,
15 June 2017
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
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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
Adverb
-
The Taliban formally codified a long set of rules governing morality late last year, ranging from requiring women to cover their faces and men to grow beards to banning car drivers from playing music.—
Reuters,
CNN Money,
18 Sep. 2025
-
The Taliban formally codified a long set of rules governing morality late last year, ranging from requiring women to cover their faces and men to grow beards to barring car drivers from playing music.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
18 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Only.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/only. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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