FORLORN Synonyms: 242 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'forlorn' distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of forlorn are alone , desolate , lonely , lonesome , lone , and solitary . While all these words mean "isolated from others," forlorn stresses dejection, woe, and listlessness at separation from one held dear. // a forlorn lost child

Q: When could 'alone' be used to replace 'forlorn'?

While the synonyms alone and forlorn are close in meaning, 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

Q: When is it sensible to use 'desolate' instead of 'forlorn'?

The meanings of desolate and forlorn largely overlap; however, desolate implies inconsolable grief at loss or bereavement. // desolate after her brother's death

Q: How does the word 'lone' relate to other synonyms for 'forlorn'?

Lone may replace lonely or lonesome but typically is as objective as alone . // a lone robin pecking at the lawn

Q: How are the words 'lonely' and 'solitary' related as synonyms of 'forlorn'?

Lonely adds to solitary a suggestion of longing for companionship. // felt lonely and forsaken

Q: When would 'lonesome' be a good substitute for 'forlorn'?

While in some cases nearly identical to forlorn , lonesome heightens the suggestion of sadness and poignancy. // an only child often leads a lonesome life

Q: When is 'solitary' a more appropriate choice than 'forlorn'?

The words solitary and forlorn can be used in similar contexts, but 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

forlorn

adjective

fər-ˈlȯrn

Definition of forlorn

as in sad

feeling unhappiness she was forlorn when she found out the trip had been cancelled

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in lonely

sad from lack of companionship or separation from others a forlorn wanderer far from home

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in bleak

causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer a forlorn little town whose brief economic boom ended decades ago

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as in desperate

feeling or showing no hope the forlorn expression of a candidate who knows that he hasn't a prayer of winning the election

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word forlorn distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of forlorn are alone, desolate, lonely, lonesome, lone, and solitary. While all these words mean "isolated from others," forlorn stresses dejection, woe, and listlessness at separation from one held dear.

a forlorn lost child

When could alone be used to replace forlorn?

While the synonyms alone and forlorn are close in meaning, 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 forlorn?

The meanings of desolate and forlorn largely overlap; however, desolate implies inconsolable grief at loss or bereavement.

desolate after her brother's death

How does the word lone relate to other synonyms for forlorn?

Lone may replace lonely or lonesome but typically is as objective as alone.

a lone robin pecking at the lawn

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

Lonely adds to solitary a suggestion of longing for companionship.

felt lonely and forsaken

When would lonesome be a good substitute for forlorn?

While in some cases nearly identical to forlorn, lonesome heightens the suggestion of sadness and poignancy.

an only child often leads a lonesome life

When is solitary a more appropriate choice than forlorn?

The words solitary and forlorn can be used in similar contexts, but 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 forlorn Before pushing the film into its final forlorn section, the excitement that something sexy might happen charges the actors. — Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2026 Paul drove into Wilkes-Barre from Princeton on Christmas Day after the chapel service and dropped his bags at a forlorn motor lodge on Public Square—Christmas carols dragging at slow speed on its sound system—and swung by my parents. — Literary Hub, 18 June 2026 Some episodes in his final week felt a bit forlorn. — Joy Press, Vanity Fair, 22 May 2026 What the statement failed to mention was the use of price caps by the president, Nicolas Maduro—a forlorn attempt by the country’s leader to shield the public from the effects of a broken and corrupt economy. — Kamal Ahmed, Fortune, 21 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for forlorn

Recent Examples of Synonyms for forlorn

Adjective

This formula carried his last offering, the funny and sad, Colin Farrell-led The Banshees of Inisherin to nine Oscar nominations in 2022.

— Radhika Seth, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026
Hunter said it’s been sad to see photos of the devastation wrought by the fire.

— Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of sad

Adjective

If, as Jimmy Connors has said, tennis is boxing at ninety feet—a lonely battle of wills that punishes the slightest lapse in concentration—Eala’s southpaw forehand drives resemble Pacquiao’s blazing left hooks.

— Albert Samaha, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026
Many become lonelier and less equipped to navigate conflict, disappointment, and repair elsewhere.

— David H. Rosmarin, Time, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of lonely

Adjective

Using the pretense of a documentary film crew, the show follows the excruciatingly dull workday experiences of a paper supply company in a drab office in a bleak industrial estate in Slough, England.

— René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 Sep. 2026
India's quarterly economic growth has exceeded expectations several times over the past year, defying a bleak global trade environment, high energy prices and geopolitical uncertainties.

— Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of bleak

Adjective

Predecessor Eddie Howe had been desperate to bring the Belgian to the club.

— Chris Waugh, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Yoon has defended his action, calling it a desperate attempt to draw public support for his fight against the liberal opposition Democratic Party that obstructed his agenda.

— ABC News, ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of desperate

Adjective

Davis was much more somber, and his attorney, Wayne Higgins, is heard frequently admonishing his client for volunteering unnecessary information.

— Taylor Romine, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
Bookended by drone shots of the Macedonian countryside and a somber cello refrain by Novogradska, this 86-minute doc is otherwise composed of scoreless interviews with subjects seated in front of black curtains and captured in medium range.

— Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of somber

Adjective

Corruption was endemic, and the country’s deeper troubles—its poverty, its social inequities, and the hopeless conditions that drive millions of Nepalis to emigrate for work—endured, laying the kindling for last year’s explosion.

— Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026
Sometimes, love in a hopeless place is worth the price of admission.

— Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of hopeless

Adjective

Quietly depressed, a wife to Reuben (Tracy Letts, Coon’s real-life partner) and mother to Ella (Bella Ramsey) and Jo (Odessa Young), Rita holds a monotonous desk job at a bank by day, and tends to her family by night as part of her humdrum routine.

— Tomris Laffly, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
Sprague conceded Clancy had mental health issues and was depressed.

— Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of depressed

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“Forlorn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forlorn. Accessed 6 Sep. 2026.

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