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alone

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adjective

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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
Finland alone could probably defeat Russia in such a fight if backed by security guarantees from at least one of its nuclear-armed allies, France or the United Kingdom. Kori Schake, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025 Four families were found in the Washington area alone. The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 June 2025
Adjective
Activities that require adult supervision due to physical risk are not ideal for teens to navigate alone (like skydiving). Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 20 June 2025 Gay retirees are not alone in this desire to escape the U.S. David Rae, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for alone
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alone
Adverb
  • Zuckerberg famously earns only $1 as CEO at Meta, although the company provides him a $14 million allowance for costs related to security for Zuckerberg and his family.
    Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 27 June 2025
  • Having only scored one openplay goal in his last ten games and flirted on the periphery of matches, the equation of how to integrate Haaland with a new cast of fluid attackers still had to be solved.
    Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • On social media, there’s a certain kind of influencer who specializes in attracting lonely, unhappy people by brandishing mantras and principles that will allegedly lead them to more fulfilled and successful lives.
    Jia Tolentino, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
  • Over in her Hawaiian home land, 19-year-old Nani (Tia Carrere) has been trying her best to fend for herself and her lonely little sister Lilo (beautifully voiced by young Daveigh Chase) in the absence of their parents.
    Michael Rechtshaffen, HollywoodReporter, 22 June 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
  • The top lamp lights up your space while the side lamp can be turned on and moved around separately as a reading light.
    Christopher Murray may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom., FOXNews.com, 30 June 2025
Adverb
  • Admissions officers can clearly identify a student who has applied to a major solely because of its higher admissions rate.
    Christopher Rim, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
  • The Iranian people look neither to the past nor the current status quo but forward—to a free and democratic future, where legitimacy derives solely from the ballot box.
    Beth Bailey, FOXNews.com, 25 June 2025
Adjective
  • The Changing Face Of Threats Modern attackers are not lone hackers in basements.
    Bhupendra Singh, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • Oregon State and Washington State had been the lone schools in the Pac-12 since 2024, after 10 schools defected to the Big Ten, Big 12 and ACC ahead of the 2024-25 academic year.
    Jason Clinkscales, Sportico.com, 30 June 2025
Adverb
  • 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
  • Either way, there’s no wrong answer—just the one that suits your next adventure best.
    Jill Schildhouse, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Adjective
  • Back on top 4-2, Castellanos made it 5-2 with a single off Garza.
    Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 21 June 2025
  • The Yankee Stadium crowd booed loudly as Gary Sanchez cruised into first base with a single into shallow center field.
    Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 21 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Alone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alone. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

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