alone 1 of 2

alone

2 of 2

adjective

Try This Instead

For
Try This
an alone time
a solitary time
a private time
a secluded time
a personal time
an alone group
a solitary group
an individual group
a separated group
a singular group
a separate group
an alone entity
a solo entity
a complete entity
a sole entity
an unique entity
a single entity
an alone system
a solo system
a solitary system
an individual system
an independent system
a separate system
an alone product
a single product
a complete product
a separate product
an independent product
a whole product

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 2021 alone, the FAA initiated more than 1,000 investigations into passenger interference with crews or flight operations, compared to the historical average of fewer than 150 per year, according to FAA Incident Data. Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 July 2025 On piano, Yoyo has placed in three major competitions in 2025 alone. Beth Wood, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 July 2025
Adjective
In your suite, enjoy some alone time with an extravagant meal accompanied by champagne, served course by course on a white tablecloth on your private veranda. AFAR Media, 3 July 2025 While community complaints about noise and lines exist, the officer stated those alone don't justify denying the renewal. Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for alone
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alone
Adverb
  • Everyone there loves to party, except for Saira (Shabana Azeez), the ruling queens’ only daughter, a sheepish 23-year-old with extreme self-esteem issues.
    Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 8 July 2025
  • For me, my character’s heart was truly genuine in only wanting to protect and save that baby.
    Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2025
Adjective
  • While Bowie envisioned an Earth careening toward apocalypse in a flamboyant, theatrical cry, Drake’s five leaves are quieter, lonelier — more like the end of a season than the end of a world.
    arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 5 July 2025
  • By January, Musk had transitioned to lieutenant, making up DOGE, complete with cringey swag, like a lonely preteen dreaming up a secret club in his tree house.
    Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 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
Adverb
  • As of earlier this week, Guantanamo Bay's immigration detainees — who are detained separately from the terrorism suspects also held at the U.S. military base — included nationals of China, Jamaica, Liberia and the United Kingdom, according to the federal documents.
    Camilo Montoya-Galvez July 1, CBS News, 1 July 2025
  • In 1968, when Republican Richard B. Ogilvie was elected governor, voters separately elected future U.S. Sen. Paul Simon, a Democrat, as the state’s No. 2.
    Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2025
Adverb
  • Now, the public defender solely refers people to each court, and must argue a defendant deserves a referral before a judge.
    Ishani Desai July 7, Sacbee.com, 7 July 2025
  • Another bill sponsored by Morgan, which passed through the House but didn’t come to a vote in the Senate, would prevent insurers doing business in Illinois from denying, reducing or terminating coverage solely because of the use of an artificial intelligence system.
    Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 7 July 2025
Adjective
  • The Changing Face Of Threats Modern attackers are not lone hackers in basements.
    Bhupendra Singh, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • Disney Dream is the lone Disney ship for now sailing from the line’s new second home in Fort Lauderdale.
    Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 June 2025
Adverb
  • Perry’s prop malfunction occurred just one day after Beyoncé experienced an onstage mishap of her own, when her flying car began to tip over mid-air during her June 29 performance in Houston.
    Michaela Zee, Variety, 1 July 2025
  • Unfortunately, many didn’t realize their conversations could be made public with just one tap, and the interface often fails to make the public/private distinction clear.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2025
Adjective
  • And under the branches of a large tree, 10 dining table chairs are arranged in a single line.
    Briah Lumpkins, Charlotte Observer, 1 July 2025
  • Reputation can shift in a single news cycle, so organizations need a coordinated system co-led by marketing and communications, each with distinct expertise by audience: • Marketing brings consumer insights, brand-building and commercialization to protect equity and trust.
    Toby Wong, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Alone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alone. Accessed 13 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on alone

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!