as in maverick
a person who does not conform to generally accepted standards or customs
something of a lone ranger among anthropologists, she does her research without either a lending hand or an eye toward trendy topics
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Recent Examples of lone ranger
As Kissinger understood, even lone rangers need friends.
—
Margaret MacMillan, Foreign Affairs, 21 July 2025
And while his rivals have landed serious blows against him, he’s embraced the tabloid-style frenzy at each of those junctures, incorporating them into his narrative identity as an underappreciated lone ranger constantly battling the world.
—TIME, 7 May 2024
Look, first of all, Netanyahu is not a lone ranger.
—Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2024
Each bike in the lineup is powered by the same 1,203 cc V-twin that pumps out 120 hp, but the new year will see new styling and colors for the FTR Sport, as well as a few choice performance modifications to help America’s lone ranger compete against the aforementioned competition.
—Peter Jackson, Robb Report, 29 Nov. 2022
The desperate situation usually has an alternative, if only the lone ranger would tolerate his own vulnerability and fallibility.
—Jordan Kisner, The Atlantic, 19 Apr. 2021
Kaneland pitcher Emilee Erickson, wearing a protective face mask in Friday’s Class 3A state semifinal, was no lone ranger.
—Rick Armstrong, Aurora Beacon-News, 9 June 2018
Hanes doesn't believe J. Edgar Hoover or the Federal Bureau of Investigation was involved, nor a group of lone rangers.
—Ivana Hrynkiw, AL.com, 4 Apr. 2018
But don’t mistake him for a lone ranger.
—Dan Hurley, Discover Magazine, 19 Dec. 2016
Margaret MacMillan, Foreign Affairs, 21 July 2025
And while his rivals have landed serious blows against him, he’s embraced the tabloid-style frenzy at each of those junctures, incorporating them into his narrative identity as an underappreciated lone ranger constantly battling the world.
—TIME, 7 May 2024
Look, first of all, Netanyahu is not a lone ranger.
—Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2024
Each bike in the lineup is powered by the same 1,203 cc V-twin that pumps out 120 hp, but the new year will see new styling and colors for the FTR Sport, as well as a few choice performance modifications to help America’s lone ranger compete against the aforementioned competition.
—Peter Jackson, Robb Report, 29 Nov. 2022
The desperate situation usually has an alternative, if only the lone ranger would tolerate his own vulnerability and fallibility.
—Jordan Kisner, The Atlantic, 19 Apr. 2021
Kaneland pitcher Emilee Erickson, wearing a protective face mask in Friday’s Class 3A state semifinal, was no lone ranger.
—Rick Armstrong, Aurora Beacon-News, 9 June 2018
Hanes doesn't believe J. Edgar Hoover or the Federal Bureau of Investigation was involved, nor a group of lone rangers.
—Ivana Hrynkiw, AL.com, 4 Apr. 2018
But don’t mistake him for a lone ranger.
—Dan Hurley, Discover Magazine, 19 Dec. 2016
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lone ranger
Noun
-
Carl Anka Trent Alexander-Arnold’s England career is a fascinating case study in why team sports can prefer the orthodox to the mavericks.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
-
And what once was a simple majority-rules vote each week has been complicated by the addition of individual immunity idols and advantages that can shift the balance of power from the collective toward maverick individuals.—
Julie Beck,
The Atlantic,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
This was a lone wolf, in my opinion.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Apr. 2026
-
There’s a lone wolf fighting for his survival on his own.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
For years, he was known as an enfant terrible; now he’s matured.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
16 May 2026
-
The epitome of an enfant terrible, Rimbaud was a rebellious adolescent with a tempestuous personal life (ask fellow poet Paul Verlaine).—
René Ostberg,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
Redford played a conservative lawyer who marries Fonda, a free spirit.—
Victoria Edel,
PEOPLE,
1 May 2026
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But Nora is a free spirit who enjoys her liberation; of course, problems arise when the three men meet and decide to be more proactive about the situation.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lone ranger.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lone%20ranger. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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