lonely

adjective

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lone·ly | \ ˈlōn-lē

lonelier; loneliest

Definition of lonely

1a : being without company : lone too many lonely nights at home

b : cut off from others : solitary the train stopped frequently at lonely little stations— Robert Hichens

2 : not frequented by human beings : desolate a lonely spot in the woods

3 : sad from being alone : lonesome He was feeling lonely without his wife and children.

4 : producing a feeling of bleakness or desolation it's a lonely thing to be a champion— G. B. Shaw

Other Words from lonely Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More About lonely

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Synonyms & Antonyms for lonely

Synonyms

Antonyms

accompanied

Choose the Right Synonym for lonely

alone, solitary, lonely, lonesome, lone, forlorn, desolate 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 solitary may indicate isolation as a chosen course glorying in the calm of her solitary life but more often it suggests sadness and a sense of loss. left solitary by the death of his wife lonely adds to solitary a suggestion of longing for companionship. felt lonely and forsaken lonesome heightens the suggestion of sadness and poignancy. an only child often leads a lonesome life lone may replace lonely or lonesome but typically is as objective as alone. a lone robin pecking at the lawn forlorn stresses dejection, woe, and listlessness at separation from one held dear. a forlorn lost child desolate implies inconsolable grief at loss or bereavement. desolate after her brother's death

Examples of lonely in a Sentence

He was lonely without his wife and children. She was a lonely child with few friends. It was lonely living out in the country. She spent too many lonely nights at home. She had a lonely childhood. a lonely spot in the woods a lonely stretch of road

Recent Examples on the Web This poor woman is lonely because her husband is away and wants some form of friendship. — BostonGlobe.com, 7 June 2021 The film depicts the awkwardness associated with first dates when two lonely co-workers spend an uneasy Friday night together. — John Benson, cleveland, 12 May 2021 For churchgoers, watching services from home was lonely. — New York Times, 12 May 2021 The overarching mission for Circles is a noble cause: Making sure nobody feels lonely or emotionally challenged. — Tim Lai, Forbes, 30 May 2021 The most prominent among them is a welcoming but corrupt and very lonely banker. — Celia Storey, Arkansas Online, 24 May 2021 In a big and sometimes lonely city, coffee shops were our points of connection and our anchors. — Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2021 The system will eventually lead to high-speed drones, powered by Skyborg, equipped with sensors, weapons, and other payloads to accomplish lonely—and dangerous—jobs that manned fighters used to carry out. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 13 May 2021 According to Psychology Today, this is the opposite of lonely. — USA Today, 12 May 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'lonely.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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