LONELINESS Synonyms: 26 Similar and Opposite Words

loneliness

noun

Definition of loneliness

as in isolation

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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 loneliness Summary Workplace loneliness is surging, particularly among remote and Gen Z employees, as AI and remote work reduce direct human interaction. — Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 Orr said using social media more than three hours a day can lead to anxiety, depression, loneliness and isolation. — Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026 The loneliness of the long-distance grieving survivalist is the main preoccupation of The Dog Stars, Ridley Scott’s moody, surprisingly sensitive adaptation of Scott Heller’s 2012 novel. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2026 The story takes on first crushes, school pressures, friendship conflicts, parental separation and loneliness. — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2026 Young people are facing unprecedented challenges, from rising loneliness and anxiety to an increasingly complex digital world. — Semafor Events, semafor.com, 26 Aug. 2026 As physical retail competes with online shopping, and concerns grow over a broader loneliness epidemic, the company is betting that hosting community experiences can help its shopping centers thrive and grow. — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026 Summit County is known for its outdoor recreation, but mental health professionals say life in Colorado's mountains can also come with isolation, loneliness and other challenges. — Spencer Wilson, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026 While some social media users believe loneliness creators encourage self-love, some online users and experts criticize them for encouraging isolation amid a time when the World Health Organization has made loneliness a global health priority. — Amen Galinato, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for loneliness

Noun

Physical activity, blood pressure, hearing loss, smoking, social isolation, sleep, nutrition, stress management and recovery can all influence our long-term health.

— Mick Safron, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
On the one hand, there’s a fascination with collective joy and the forms of vernacular invention that aspire to it; on the other, there’s an underlying melancholy that points to the inevitability of isolation, an epistemology of loneliness.

— Pablo Larios, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of isolation

Noun

That was the case in the United States during the legal segregation of African Americans in the South—some police officers were members of violent white supremacist organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
Defense attorneys described their confinement as effectively punitive segregation even though the brothers had not committed disciplinary violations.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of segregation

Noun

These immigrants, who first settled the backcountry of Pennsylvania before pushing farther to the western and southern frontier, brought with them a cultural and linguistic separateness that had an immense impact on the speech of the American heartland.

— Valerie Fridland, Big Think, 21 Apr. 2026
Byrne is generous with his time and attention, but there’s also a Warholian air of mystery about him—a gentle impenetrability, a feeling of separateness.

— Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025

Definition of separateness

Noun

Just 10 minutes from Lagos and 15 minutes from Portimão, Palmares strikes an ideal balance between accessibility and seclusion.

— Jeff Goudy, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
The park feels light-years away from the closest major airport, Midland (235 miles away), and this seclusion ensures the park’s night views stay dazzling.

— Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of seclusion

Noun

The various configurations allow the property to accommodate a range of needs, budgets, and even levels of privacy, making the experience that much more customizable.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Aug. 2026
The platform can be closed off from the rest of the yacht for further privacy.

— Dea Jusufi, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of privacy

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“Loneliness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loneliness. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of loneliness

noun

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