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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 Five years from now, traditional corporate finance may be a distant memory—and perhaps a bit lonelier for the workforce. Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2025 The number of Americans feeling lonely at work is on the rise, according to a new study from Bingo Card Creator. Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025 The project, which was written by Cesar Vitale, winner of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting, follows a lonely woman (Alcock) who mistakenly receives a severed thumb in the mail. Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025 From a little garden in New Zealand, comes a lonely snail looking for love. Angus Watson, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lonely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lonely
Adjective
  • That number may be a bit skewed by his lone postseason appearance last season (five innings, four runs) but is the number regardless.
    Andrew Wright, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025
  • On an office bar cart beside bottles of Dom Perignon and Don Julio 1942 are rows and rows of Monster energy drinks and a lone canister of Loaded Hot Dog Pringles.
    Richard Nieva, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Dude can’t carry the Rams to the postseason again all by his lonesome.
    Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 19 Aug. 2025
  • Dylan took the exit on the county line and pulled into the lonesome border truck stop, pissed in the bathroom, paid for Bob’s coffee with cream and with sugar and took out three hundred dollars at the ATM.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Matters only got more bleak in the sixth, when Rushing fouled a ball off his right shin, smoking a ball right above where his guard ended and immediately going down in pain.
    Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
  • The one constant is the unhappy couple’s bleak surroundings.
    Adam Solomons, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Keep a distance from tall, solitary trees or other elevated structures.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Writing is a solitary, sedentary, indoor activity while tennis is a social (certainly at those Quebec Street courts), active, outdoor pursuit.
    Thomas Swick September 5, Literary Hub, 5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Silksong is steeped in religious imagery — desolate chapels, ringing church bells, even rosary beads that act as in-game currency.
    Keller Gordon, NPR, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Her haunting soprano ranged from desolate whispers to expansive belts.
    Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Kraus also had a dark backpack on her person.
    Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Lakshmi shared a photo and video of herself at the beach wearing a dark pink bikini while playing in the water.
    Angel Saunders, People.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Customers can purchase a maximum of 14 single blind boxes each.
    Julia Gomez, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
  • For example, a single filer claiming the full $25,000 would lose the deduction entirely at $400,000 in income.
    Diana Leyva, The Tennessean, 3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The facts present a forlorn and foreboding portrait of the Rockies’ starting pitching.
    Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 31 Aug. 2025
  • Often, Andor and Klára stare at each other in mutual, forlorn incomprehension, each seeking and failing to find a mirror in the other’s gaze.
    Guy Lodge, Variety, 28 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Lonely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lonely. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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