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 That means sports like the NFL, NBA and Olympics, of course, but the lone holdover cable brand is aiming to leave its mark too. Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2025 The Tigers' lone win of the season came in an unconvincing 27-16 victory over Troy. Matt Audilet, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025 At a short news conference, authorities confirmed that Sanford, from nearby Burton, Michigan, was the lone suspect. Louis Casiano , Garrett Tenney, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2025 Apple of Shanahan’s eye The 49ers’ lone standard practice squad elevation was Eli Apple, who once upon a time was the 10th overall pick of the NFL Draft for the New York Giants in 2016. Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 29 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lone
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lone
Adjective
  • When quitting feels like the only option For Khris Rogers, the symptoms that consumed her during perimenopause stole her ability to keep her job.
    Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Kaprizov, Spurgeon and Brodin weren’t the only players from the current roster to make the cut.
    Michael Russo, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Noting the billions of dollars that Arkansas spends each year on federal programs to help the poor, including Medicaid, food stamps, child welfare and unemployment assistance, Sanders suggested the problems are often too big for a single program to fix.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2025
  • However, this is still a group that lacks even a single true top-pair defenseman.
    Harman Dayal, New York Times, 7 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
  • Based on the eponymous bestselling novel, this first-ever adaptation follows Crisóstomo (Santoro), a solitary fisherman who longs for a son.
    Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 4 Oct. 2025
  • Yet the Kremlin’s battle with the West has turned solitary.
    Nina Khrushcheva, Time, 3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The state law's sole location requirement is that the facilities must be within 30 miles of a hospital to ensure access to a higher level of care in case the need arises.
    Killian Baarlaer, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Wirtz’s form is not the sole reason Liverpool are not at their best.
    Andy Jones, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • In the play, Farrow played Sharon, a lonely Iowa woman – estranged from her adult son, divorced from her husband – who decides to take a boarder into her large farmhouse.
    Denise Petski, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2025
  • But on the flip side, the one tally in the win column remains lonely as the team heads into its Week 5 matchup against the Jets in New York.
    Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Make no mistake, though, this footballing mecca, where the turnstiles closed for the final time 25 years ago this week, was a truly special place.
    Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Receiving that nomination, specifically for that album, was just so special.
    Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Twenty-five of Imanaga’s home runs in the regular season were of the solo variety.
    Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Forget goblins and ghouls—being secretly watched and filmed by a stranger is one of my worst fears, especially as a solo female traveler.
    Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 7 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Lone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lone. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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