Synonym Chooser

How is the word lone distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of lone are alone, desolate, forlorn, lonely, lonesome, and solitary. While all these words mean "isolated from others," lone may replace lonely or lonesome but typically is as objective as alone.

a lone robin pecking at the lawn

When would alone be a good substitute for lone?

The words alone and lone can be used in similar contexts, but 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 is it sensible to use desolate instead of lone?

The meanings of desolate and lone 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 lone?

Although the words forlorn and lone have much in common, forlorn stresses dejection, woe, and listlessness at separation from one held dear.

a forlorn lost child

How are the words lonely and solitary related as synonyms of lone?

Lonely adds to solitary a suggestion of longing for companionship.

felt lonely and forsaken

When might lonesome be a better fit than lone?

The synonyms lonesome and lone are sometimes interchangeable, but lonesome heightens the suggestion of sadness and poignancy.

an only child often leads a lonesome life

When can solitary be used instead of lone?

In some situations, the words solitary and lone are roughly equivalent. However, 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 lone The end of Jackson’s case leaves Sophia’s mother, Samantha Johnson, as the lone person still facing murder and child abuse charges in the girl’s death. Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2025 Nash and Goldberg reflected on making the movie — which follows a group of women on a cross-country road trip — with director Herbert Ross, from whom Nash took the reins during a comical exchange in her lone scene. Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Oct. 2025 With veteran guards Marcus Smart and Gabe Vincent added to the injury report, the Lakers were left with fifth-year guard Austin Reaves as the lone ball-handler signed to the main roster available on Monday. Khobi Price, Oc Register, 28 Oct. 2025 Nelson began his career working on Martin Scorsese’s makeup-heavy Best Picture Oscar nominee Raging Bull (1980), which won Robert De Niro his lone Best Actor Academy Award. Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 28 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lone
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lone
Adjective
  • The only way to end slavery at the founding was to create a federal government empowered to make domestic and foreign policy for the states.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
  • Brady was the only parent home at the time of the drowning.
    Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • For players, the potential advantages include a much larger accessible library, the combination of local hardware, cloud, and PC options in a single device, and stronger peripheral and mod support typical of Windows.
    Alex Harrington, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Oct. 2025
  • It’s built to resist pesky tangles, power through daily messes with super-strong suction, and run up to 50 minutes on a single charge.
    Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Oct. 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
Adjective
  • Set in the early 20th-century Pacific Northwest, the film stars Joel Edgerton as Robert Grainier, a solitary railroad worker navigating profound personal loss as the American frontier expands around him.
    Clayton Davis, Variety, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Mikkel Damsgaard and Fabio Carvalho have scored with their solitary big chances, too.
    Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • In August, the former professional football player filed for sole physical custody of his and Zolciak's children.
    Sarah Jones, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Nordi Mukiele and Omar Alderete have both scored their sole big chances, too.
    Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Chesky described having a lonely childhood, pulled between his love for creative design and sports, never really fitting in.
    Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2025
  • The film stars newcomers Kåre Hedebrant and Lina Leandersson as Oskar and Eli, two lonely kids living in the same apartment block in a small Swedish city in winter.
    Katie Rife, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Team it with ballet flats or sneakers for a casual day of apple-picking or tailgating this season, or dress it up with tights and boots for holiday celebrations and other special occasions.
    Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
  • At the end of the day, that is what makes this show so special, rather than just another dance show, is because there’s an actual technique book based off of these dances that you guys are watching the couples dance.
    McKinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Scherzinger had been a chart-topper in the aughts, but hadn’t achieved solo success, and her all-girl act yielded to the Katys, Rihannas and Gagas of the next decade.
    Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025
  • Drawing comparisons to Michael Jackson while honing lithe dancing skills and his supple tenor, Usher graduated from opener to solo headliner in 2002 with his 8701 Evolution Tour in support of his third studio album, 8701.
    Gail Mitchell, Billboard, 28 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Lone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lone. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.

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