ONE-WAY Synonyms: 42 Similar and Opposite Words

one-way

adjective

Definition of one-way

as in unilateral

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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 one-way That equals emissions from a standard passenger vehicle driving between 2,000 and 5,200 miles — roughly the one-way distance between Seattle and Miami. — Cassandra Thiel, STAT, 8 Sep. 2026 No buses run participants back to their starting point after a one-way crossing, though shuttle and ferry service remain available for those who want them. — Paula Wethington, CBS News, 7 Sep. 2026 Per the Tallahassee Democrat, Donna and her husband were about to board a one-way flight to Vietnam, a non-extradition country, with a stop in Dubai, when she was arrested. — Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2026 Empty legs are also one-way flights so passengers will need to find an alternate way back home. — Elliott Harrell, Travel + Leisure, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for one-way

Recent Examples of Synonyms for one-way

Adjective

When Brazil ratified the agreement, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva described it not as a trade policy achievement but as a reaffirmation of multilateralism in an era of unilateral tariffs.

— JONAS NAHM, Foreign Affairs, 14 Sep. 2026
There was a clear opposition to the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) implemented by the European Union, alongside other unilateral measures that members believe have impeded trade.

— Mayu Saini, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of unilateral

Adjective

Or maybe they’ve been teased themselves after delivering a complete but one-sided conversation while fully asleep at a slumber party.

— Michael R. Nadorff, The Conversation, 14 Sep. 2026
Harbaugh’s words were delivered to a fan base desperate for a reversal of the one-sided rivalry.

— Dan Duggan, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of one-sided

Adjective

Alas, poor Bryan is about to learn the hard way that change — as the saying goes — is as hard to outrun as an ever-growing zombie rat king with 37 different limbs and a weirdly personal vendetta.

— David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 16 Sep. 2026
In 1981, Soviet spy Vladimir Kuzichkin offered up critical insider information on Iran’s Tudeh Party to Britain’s MI6 in exchange for discreet assistance with a personal affliction that was at the heart of his marital troubles.

— Mary Lawrence Ware, semafor.com, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of personal

Adjective

The rehearsals were intense, with a ton of new choreography and a crash course in how movies are made, since every single one of us in the cast was making our major-film debut.

— Victor Garber, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2026
While national rankings can offer one way for students and families to compare schools, Niche said, colleges serve different purposes and that students should consider factors beyond a single ranking.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of single

Adjective

This gutsy, solitary woman has dedicated her life to her career.

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
For all of their practical applications in the laboratory, a solitary organoid floating in a nutrient broth on a lab bench isn’t a complete human.

— Mike McRae September 17, New Atlas, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of solitary

Adjective

Design From Macro To Micro Before building an AI agent, break the business process into smaller processes and then into individual decisions.

— Nitin Gupta, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
The Ninjas embarked on a treacherous journey, flipping and slashing through data and linking millions of private businesses to the millions of individual taxpayers who owned them.

— Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of individual

Browse Nearby Words

one-ups

one-way

on file

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“One-way.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/one-way. Accessed 21 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of one-way

adjective

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