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as in lonesome
sad from lack of companionship or separation from others I was lonely when I first got to Los Angeles, but I soon made friends

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word lonely distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of lonely are alone, desolate, forlorn, lonesome, lone, and solitary. While all these words mean "isolated from others," lonely adds to solitary a suggestion of longing for companionship.

felt lonely and forsaken

When is it sensible to use alone instead of lonely?

In some situations, the words alone and lonely are roughly equivalent. However, 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 could desolate be used to replace lonely?

The synonyms desolate and lonely are sometimes interchangeable, but desolate implies inconsolable grief at loss or bereavement.

desolate after her brother's death

Where would forlorn be a reasonable alternative to lonely?

The words forlorn and lonely are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, forlorn stresses dejection, woe, and listlessness at separation from one held dear.

a forlorn lost child

How does the word lone relate to other synonyms for lonely?

Lone may replace lonely or lonesome but typically is as objective as alone.

a lone robin pecking at the lawn

In what contexts can lonesome take the place of lonely?

The words lonesome and lonely can be used in similar contexts, but lonesome heightens the suggestion of sadness and poignancy.

an only child often leads a lonesome life

When would solitary be a good substitute for lonely?

While the synonyms solitary and lonely are close in meaning, 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 lonely Padres fans turn their lonely eyes to you. Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Oct. 2025 Writer-director Andrew DeYoung’s Friendship, which cast him as a lonely guy who befriends, alienates, then becomes fixated on a cool neighbor (Paul Rudd), has some great moments but falters midway through due to a predictable plot. Judy Berman, Time, 9 Oct. 2025 Leclerc fought a lonely race, finishing sixth while close rivals Mercedes, McLaren, and Red Bull were clearly faster during the race. Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025 Boys with higher exposure to this kind of content have lower self-esteem and are lonelier, according to the July survey of 1,000-plus boys ages 11 to 17 living in the United States. Kara Alaimo, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lonely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lonely
Adjective
  • The growing trend of player-for-player marking can also mean that teams can bypass an opponent’s midfield with direct passes when building up, allowing an attacking midfielder, two wingers, and a lone striker to stay high and push the opposition back towards their own goal.
    Mark Carey, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Some investigators argued for a lone killer, while others suggested a network of individuals acting under occult motivations.
    Isadora Wandermurem, Time, 22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • About 90 minutes earlier in the game, Thornton sprinted down the center of the field on a post route, basically all by his lonesome.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 25 Sep. 2025
  • All in all, Jones should have the power to uplift this shaky defense on his lonesome.
    Mat Issa, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • These are bleak times, and as fans continue to mourn the club’s decline, West Ham’s hierarchy have shifted their focus to the January transfer window.
    Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • As with many of Burton's best films, the real magic is the nuggets of human profundity hidden within the bleak imagery and whimsical comedy.
    Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Set in the early 20th-century Pacific Northwest, the film stars Joel Edgerton as Robert Grainier, a solitary railroad worker navigating profound personal loss as the American frontier expands around him.
    Clayton Davis, Variety, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Mikkel Damsgaard and Fabio Carvalho have scored with their solitary big chances, too.
    Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Clowns, aliens and the mysteries of Denver Airport Nevada’s Extraterrestrial Highway – yes, it’s officially called that – runs through one of the most remote and desolate stretches of the United States.
    Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
  • To find the killer, Sherlock Holmes and Watson will have to brave desolate moors before a family curse dooms the newest heirs.
    Meredith G. White, AZCentral.com, 1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • For a darker experience in the City of Light, venture beneath Paris and explore its hundreds of miles of catacombs.
    Sophie Friedman, AFAR Media, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Patrick wore a classic dark grey suit with coordinating pants and jacket.
    Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • This faux Dunhill Fir is designed to look and feel like a tree plucked straight off the lot, without the single-season lifespan or mess of shedding needles.
    Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
  • However, Daulton Varsho, who has been another clutch Blue Jays hitter throughout the postseason, smacked a single to center to score Springer to knot the game at one apiece.
    Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The once forlorn small club of football faithful have welcomed a convoy of bandwagon hoppers.
    Dana O'Neil, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Yet like many other Z&L endeavors in San Jose, that project has fizzled, and the old church remains a forlorn structure next to an unkempt field in downtown San Jose.
    George Avalos, Mercury News, 23 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Lonely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lonely. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

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