FRIENDLESS Synonyms: 59 Similar and Opposite Words

friendless

adjective

Definition of friendless

as in withdrawn

Related Words

Relevance

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 friendless Benevolent, the latest work from playwright Sophie McIntosh (Macbitches), tells the story of four young women at Inwood’s Benevolent Home—a reformatory house for fallen and friendless girls—in 1917. — Alex Jhamb Burns, Vogue, 23 Aug. 2026 Don’t choose this option If that road to peace is permanently closed, as Netanyahu’s coalition intends, Israel will condemn itself to perpetual warfare and to being a pariah nation in a friendless world. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2026 Next up, Holland reprises his role as Peter Parker five years after fans last saw him in the role in 2021’s No Way Home, which concludes with the world forgetting his identity, leaving Peter alone and friendless. — Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 27 July 2026 Perhaps helped along by gendered expectations of strength and silence, the idea that men are friendless has taken hold. — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 13 July 2026 There’s already basically no legal trade between Venezuela and the United States and, other than Cuba, Venezuela is essentially friendless in world politics. — Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 9 Dec. 2025 That leaves it friendless, brittle, and uncreative—and, paradoxically, that leaves it vulnerable when fighting, too. — Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 2 Sep. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for friendless

Adjective

In an era of ball-to-feet No 10s and withdrawn strikers, Welbeck stays high up the pitch, runs the channels and occupies defenders.

— Liam Tharme, New York Times, 27 July 2026
The withdrawn earnings are taxed as ordinary income, the Treasury said.

— Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 11 July 2026

Definition of withdrawn

Adjective

School staff found the backpack lying unattended after breaking up a fight inside a hallway at Cambria Heights Academy on 91st Ave.

— Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 24 Sep. 2026
Bailey notes that children who are allowed to run freely or are left unattended could injure themselves or others.

— Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of unattended

Adjective

At one point, the camera cut to Drake, looking forlorn, and later to Rihanna, seated and largely expressionless.

— Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2026
Parkinson cut a forlorn figure on the touchline, and admitted afterwards that any inquest into what had gone wrong would start with analysis of his own actions.

— Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of forlorn

Adjective

Moisture continued to stream into the area early Wednesday, fueling showers and isolated thunderstorms that are expected to continue through the morning.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2026
Instead of producing isolated pieces of content, communications teams should ask how each piece strengthens a larger body of knowledge.

— Jessica Wong, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of isolated

Adjective

Their gathering at a secluded house quickly turns into a hellish reunion as the family members turn into Deadites.

— Mya Copeland, Variety, 25 Sep. 2026
After lingering over spaghetti alle vongole at Ristorante Lido Azzurro, which hovers over the sea near Amalfi’s harbor, zip around the coast to sea caverns and grottos, pausing for dips in secluded spots away from the crowds.

— Lane Nieset, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of secluded

Adjective

There, Trump could not resist asking if Xi had brought other global leaders to this cloistered preserve.

— Orville Schell, Foreign Affairs, 16 Sep. 2026
The Sisters embody a unique culture of prayer, silence, solitude and community, living in a contemplative and cloistered order.

— Kelly Wilkinson, IndyStar, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of cloistered

Adjective

The story follows Bobi, a 12-year-old boy born with literal dog’s paws, hidden away by his family until Carlos, a lonely, childless man, takes him in.

— Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 29 Sep. 2026
From screenwriter Eric Champnella and set in 2008, Return to You follows a powerful but lonely female attorney (Lohan) who mistakenly receives a very emotional DVD sent by a dying woman to her husband (Golding).

— Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of lonely

Browse Nearby Words

friending

friendless

friendlies

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Friendless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/friendless. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of friendless

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

adventitious

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

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

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Oct. 2

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes