sole 1 of 2

adjective

ˈsōl How to pronounce sole (audio)
Definition of solenext
1
as in exclusive
belonging only to the one person, unit, or group named the landowner has sole rights to the property, so he can do whatever he wants to with it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in only
being the one or ones of a class with no other members the eldest son became the family's sole support

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

sole

2 of 2

noun

as in toe

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 sole
Adjective
John and Frances divorced in 1969, with the children’s father awarded sole custody. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 29 July 2026 This movie jumping ahead four years finds Parker in a strange new world where his sole identity as far as anyone is concerned is as Spider-Man, ace crime fighter up for the job of keeping the city safe. — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 28 July 2026
Noun
The square toe, inspired by ballet shoes, is finished with a ballet bow and the house’s signature Loubi red sole. — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 27 July 2026 The tan leather looks super rich and has a taupe lug sole for extra support. — Tessa Petak, InStyle, 18 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for sole
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sole
  1. exclusive
  2. only
  3. toe
  4. personal
  5. lone
  6. underside
  7. single
  8. one
Adjective
  • The story may have been embellished by early biographers, but records show that Brunelleschi eventually gained recognition as the exclusive inventor and director of the dome.
    — Alicja Zelazko, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 July 2026
  • In exclusive conversations with Vanity Fair, key creatives behind the film and recording of the soundtrack say that maybe—just maybe—there’s hope for the album’s release after all.
    — Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 29 July 2026
Definition of exclusive
Adjective
  • While maximalist trends often signify that louder pieces are the only way to look fashion-forward, bold styles are ultimately fickle and harder to reinvent in new looks.
    — Olivia Cigliano, InStyle, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Mitchell Evans, offensive lineman Robert Hunt, and offensive lineman Damien Lewis were the only ones on the team’s training camp roster who didn’t practice Friday.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of only
Noun
  • Bunion Bootie is an ultra-thin, soft fabric big-toe alignment sleeve that fits comfortably inside your shoes, with a lightweight, breathable, second-skin design that separates the big toe from the second.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Brake cables looped over the handlebars, a 42×23 gear was considered the maximum for climbing, and toe clips wouldn’t begin giving way to clipless pedals for another year.
    — Tom Campbell, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of toe
Adjective
  • The article emphasizes that leaders must prioritize organizational interventions, such as de-emphasizing long hours and offering clinical sleep support like CBT-I, rather than just personal solutions.
    — Mena Mirhom, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Engle then diverted the money to personal purchases, including a yacht, vehicles, jewelry, and other luxury items, authorities said.
    — Doug Myers, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of personal
Adjective
  • Scott was the lone wideout TCU brought in from the transfer portal, which is a sign of how much the staff believes in its receivers.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 July 2026
  • Johnson scored 26 points on 11-of-20 shooting in his lone exhibition game.
    — Josh Robbins, New York Times, 21 July 2026
Definition of lone
Noun
  • Cantore’s goal off the underside of the crossbar in the 61st minute helped the Spirit overcome the loss of four players involved in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 July 2026
  • Spider Mites Spider mites can be challenging to see on your zinnias, but gossamer on the underside of the leaves or between the leaf and the stem is always a dead giveaway.
    — The Spruce, The Spruce, 21 July 2026
Definition of underside
Adjective
  • France added a two-run single later in the inning before capping the scoring with a sacrifice fly in the sixth.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026
  • On the pitch, Haaland scored seven goals from 18 shots for a 39% conversion rate, the best at a single World Cup among players taking at least 15 shots since Gary Lineker converted 40% in 1986.
    — Lilian Raji, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of single
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
Definition of one

Browse Nearby Words

sold short
sole
solecism
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sole.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sole. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on sole

Nglish: Translation of sole for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sole

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!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of mitigate

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All