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as in lonely
sad from lack of companionship or separation from others a lonesome kitten left at the pound by its hard-hearted owners

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word lonesome distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of lonesome are alone, desolate, forlorn, lonely, lone, and solitary. While all these words mean "isolated from others," lonesome heightens the suggestion of sadness and poignancy.

an only child often leads a lonesome life

When is alone a more appropriate choice than lonesome?

In some situations, the words alone and lonesome 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 lonesome?

While in some cases nearly identical to lonesome, desolate implies inconsolable grief at loss or bereavement.

desolate after her brother's death

When is it sensible to use forlorn instead of lonesome?

Although the words forlorn and lonesome have much in common, 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 lonesome?

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

a lone robin pecking at the lawn

How are the words lonely and solitary related as synonyms of lonesome?

Lonely adds to solitary a suggestion of longing for companionship.

felt lonely and forsaken

When can solitary be used instead of lonesome?

The meanings of solitary and lonesome largely overlap; however, 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 lonesome 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, 13 Aug. 2025 Heavyweights have begun to separate themselves in the standings, and the bottom of the leaderboard is looking especially lonesome. Garrett Chorpenning, New York Times, 11 July 2025 All these decades the educational establishment left Hillsdale College by its lonesome to reject federal funds in exchange for institutional independence. Amity Shlaes, National Review, 28 Apr. 2025 By the end of the night, however, any external, discerning traits fade away, leaving Scott by his lonesome. Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 22 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lonesome
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lonesome
Adjective
  • Our system isn’t set up to look at whether someone’s lonely or not.
    Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 12 Oct. 2025
  • Padres fans turn their lonely eyes to you.
    Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The Navajo Nation is the lone exception in Arizona.
    Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 15 Oct. 2025
  • The Russian big man transferred to Clemson and was stellar in his lone season there.
    Ricardo Klein, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Meta’s entry-level roles are a welcome addition to a bleak Gen Z job market.
    Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Things looked bleak when the Mariners took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, but eventually, the Jays came roaring back.
    Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Keep a distance from tall, solitary trees or other elevated structures.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 10 Oct. 2025
  • These solitary, hulking creatures are protected by conservation efforts, and to see them among the wetlands and grasses is a spell-binding experience.
    Marion Miller, Travel + Leisure, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Kennedy sought the advice of doctors after dealing with severe memory loss and brain fog, reportedly leading to a scan of his brain that showed a dark spot in the imagery.
    Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Instantly, her apartment faded away, to be replaced by a dark void.
    Big Think, Big Think, 14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • But with so much of that renewable generating technology also imported from a single country, there is a risk that one strategic geopolitical vulnerability is simply replaced with another.
    Andrew Saunders, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2025
  • At the time, the university didn't offer a single course on Puerto Ricans, Chicanos, Native Americans or Asian Americans, according to the report.
    Gina Lee Castro, jsonline.com, 14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • With its primary tenant away, the pro stadium here in central Japan was desolate outside.
    Brad Lefton, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Blerta also shared three solo photos on her own Instagram page, including a close-up photo of her sparkling engagement ring.
    Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025
  • The duo has primarily operated as solo acts in recent years.
    Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 14 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Lonesome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lonesome. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.

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