1
as in lonely
sad from lack of companionship or separation from others
a lonesome kitten left at the pound by its hard-hearted owners
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in lone
not being in the company of others
a lonesome cypress tree on a rocky, windswept point
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in bleak
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer
the playground seems especially lonesome now that there are no young children in the neighborhood
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lonesome
This isn’t alt-country so much as death-rattle country, as though Grigoroff and Adducci took Hank Williams’ most wincingly lonesome numbers as a starting point but figured the tempos were a little too fast.
—
Zach Schonfeld,
Pitchfork,
17 Apr. 2026
Historically, a relay system of 80 riders and hundreds of horses sped letters across the lonesome expanse between Missouri and California in just 10 days.
—
Pierce Miletich,
Travel + Leisure,
13 Feb. 2026
Bakers Donuts Inside a lonesome standalone shack on a stretch of Florin Road just east of Highway 99, Suzy Hem has been serving up colorful, fanciful doughnuts since 1985.
—
Sean Timberlake,
Sacbee.com,
12 Feb. 2026
Two scenic roads lead to this mountain village, one from Rustaq and the other from Al Hamra, and both cut between the fierce, lonesome peaks of the Hajar Mountains.
—
Anna Zacharias,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lonesome
Zach Schonfeld,
Pitchfork,
17 Apr. 2026
Historically, a relay system of 80 riders and hundreds of horses sped letters across the lonesome expanse between Missouri and California in just 10 days.
—
Pierce Miletich,
Travel + Leisure,
13 Feb. 2026
Bakers Donuts Inside a lonesome standalone shack on a stretch of Florin Road just east of Highway 99, Suzy Hem has been serving up colorful, fanciful doughnuts since 1985.
—
Sean Timberlake,
Sacbee.com,
12 Feb. 2026
Two scenic roads lead to this mountain village, one from Rustaq and the other from Al Hamra, and both cut between the fierce, lonesome peaks of the Hajar Mountains.
—
Anna Zacharias,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lonesome
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lonesome
Adjective
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But the book’s ruminative watchfulness is unsuccessfully conjugated in this overly sedate play with music, which has the feel of a song cycle, though sung by the fine cast with gorgeous, lonely sorrow.
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One casualty was his lovely Princeton apartment, which never came together, more grad-student than dean in its feel, a lonely refrigerator in the kitchen holding only a cup of iced coffee or a jar of mayonnaise.
Adjective
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That could lead to Arraez making it in as a reserve, or the Giants’ lone selection or selections being a pitcher or pitchers.
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The sun was blinding, my lone witness.
Adjective
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The goofy sketch comedies and homemade spoofs that once filled his channel gradually disappeared, replaced by melancholy short films and bleak monologues.
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Cher’s court documents paint a bleak picture of how Allman, 49, allegedly blows through his $120,000 annual trust distributions.
Adjective
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In another, a solitary fighter performs martial arts, training as part of the elite Black Wasps unit, Cuba’s equivalent of the US Navy SEALs or Delta Force.
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Keep a distance from tall, solitary trees or other elevated structures.
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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That was the most of any player in that tournament, earning Kane the Golden Boot that year and tying Lineker’s record for the most goals by an England player in a single World Cup.
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Under state law, any single gift — or multiple gifts from the same source that add up to $50 or more during the annual period — must be disclosed.
Adjective
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Wilderness Little Kulala is about a 45-minute drive outside the park, located in a seemingly desolate rocky plain with harsh, jagged mountains interspersed throughout the flatlands.
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Most of the women disappeared between 2000 and 2010, and most of their remains were found on a desolate parkway not far from Long Island’s Gilgo Beach, some 50 miles (80 kilometers) from Manhattan.
Adjective
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The film breathes in a dynamic way, the last few beats taking a startling turn toward a somber wistfulness.
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The hilltop De Smet Cemetery strikes a somber note.
Cite this Entry
“Lonesome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lonesome. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.
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