LONE Synonyms: 103 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

lone

adjective

ˈlōn

Definition of lone

as in only

being the one or ones of a class with no other members the lone ripe apple in the entire bag

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in single

not being in the company of others just one lone cow in the middle of the field

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 Missouri’s lone loss this season came on the road against a dynamic offense with an X-factor at quarterback. — Pj Green october 12, Kansas City Star, 12 Oct. 2026 Ditka's 1985 Bears won the franchise's lone Super Bowl title and remain one of the most iconic teams in NFL history. — Matt Zahn, CBS News, 11 Oct. 2026 The decision Misty makes as the film enters its third act is partly precipitated by her bipolar kind-of brother, her lone touchstone to a troubled childhood that’s kept frustratingly vague. — Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 10 Oct. 2026 South Florida monopolized the jackpot luck in Thursday’s lone major money Florida Lottery draw game. — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lone

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lone

Adjective

Shotwell has been the only donor to announce a major stock gift, the Wall Street Journal reported, but Treasury notes show others have expressed interest in similar donations.

— Sydney Lake, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026
The hypnotizing corduroy stripes of curling blue waves visible from the resort’s expansive green clifftop lawn en route to a private staircase that leads straight to the surf—and a guest-only beach deck, too.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of only

Adjective

To profile their activity in patients with SCLC, the researchers analyzed tumor samples and non-affected biopsies from a dozen patients using single-cell RNA sequencing and immunophenotyping.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 Oct. 2026
The judge also said the impact of the White House ban goes far beyond a single reporter's ability to do their job.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of single

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

Definition of one

Adjective

After most of the sellout crowd filed out Wednesday, one solitary Sox fan stood at his seat under the press box, shouting obscenities about the Guardians and the city of Cleveland.

— Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 9 Oct. 2026
My craft choices here around the music of the sentence and its visual presentation as a solitary line originate from my work in poetry.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of solitary

Adjective

Many of the Muslim donors hold senior leadership positions at various Muslim advocacy organizations, but list their day jobs in tech and finance as their sole occupation on the campaign contribution forms.

— Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 14 Oct. 2026
Hafley also cautioned against placing the sole blame on Willis, who started just the 11th game of his career and is leading a young offense with mostly inexperienced receivers who are still developing chemistry.

— CBS News, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of sole

Adjective

In his work preceding Good Time Charlie, Haddad has dealt in similar forms of autobiography, often as a solo performer.

— Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2026
Ohtani punctuated the series by swatting three solo homers and striking out 10 over six shutout innings in Game 4.

— ABC News, ABC News, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of solo

Adjective

The United States isn’t alone in moving away from physical travel records.

— Bailey Berg, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026
That one’s about spirits from different eras who were forced to cohabitate mostly alone until a living human couple moved into their mansion.

— Whitney Friedlander, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of alone

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“Lone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lone. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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