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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 So much of The Baltimorons turns on a dime, but these two lonely souls slowly come to appreciate being together. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025 The top players now have teams—coach, hitting partner, physio, nutritionist, sometimes a psychologist—which lessen their lonely crusader status. Thomas Swick september 5, Literary Hub, 5 Sep. 2025 Brothers Nathan and Bub Bright meet for the first time in months at the remote fence line separating their cattle ranches in the lonely outback. Kris Slugg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025 One lonely night, Dale Washberg (Tim Blake Nelson) sits in his den, glances over his shoulder out the back window, and ends up with a bullet to the brain. Ben Travers, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lonely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lonely
Adjective
  • And his lone Royals appearance was a spot start that lasted 2 ⅔ innings.
    Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The City Council ultimately voted 5-1 to deny the appeal, with lone opposition from Council Member Doug Taylor.
    Rose Evans September 10, Idaho Statesman, 10 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
  • Yes, there are good reasons to question NASA's long-term plans for the Artemis lunar program—the woeful cost of the Space Launch System rocket, the complexity of new commercial landers, and a bleak budget outlook.
    Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 12 Sep. 2025
  • That's rather bleak, while Charlie Sheen's life has just been bonkers.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Keep a distance from tall, solitary trees or other elevated structures.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Each breeding season, male leopard seals dive beneath the ice and repeat long, solitary sequences of five distinct call types for hours on end.
    Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The lock screen on the Mac remains a desolate place, relative to the same area in both iOS and iPadOS—this is still a no-notifications, no-widgets zone that exists only to keep your Mac locked.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 15 Sep. 2025
  • While the rest of Burning Man celebrated, Kruglov lay prostrate on the ground at a faraway campsite in a comparatively desolate section of Black Rock City, his throat slashed, as a puddle of blood congealed around his lifeless body.
    Denver Nicks, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The night serum visibly smooths wrinkles, reduces fine lines, and soothes the appearance of dark circles and uneven skin tone.
    Gabriela Izquierdo, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2025
  • The scent is smoky yet sweet, spicy yet smooth, dark but with an underlying lightness—the result of combining clean white musk with rose, tobacco, suede, and cumin.
    Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • These acts are punishable crimes, and every single threat will be met with the full force of the law.
    Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 17 Sep. 2025
  • The Midong solar project is the world's largest single-solar power producer, potentially generating enough electricity for 5 million households.
    Jeff Young, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 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 18 Sep. 2025.

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