1
as in just
for nothing other than
you're doing that only to annoy me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
1
as in excellent
having no equal or rival for excellence or desirability
the only way to really appreciate the beauty of the forest is to walk through it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in one
being the one or ones of a class with no other members
that is the only possible right answer we were the only passengers on the tour bus
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of only
Gary Franks, Hartford Courant, 11 Apr. 2026
Under Florida law, only eight of 12 jurors have to vote for the death penalty, not the unanimous vote required by most states that permit capital punishment.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2026
Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 16 Apr. 2026
The Rolling Stone Culture Council is an invitation-only community for Influencers, Innovators and Creatives.
—Jd Barker, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for only
Adverb
Those who relish killing people not only create more enemies but forget that it has been promised that fire would lead to Armageddon.
—Gary Franks, Hartford Courant, 11 Apr. 2026
Under Florida law, only eight of 12 jurors have to vote for the death penalty, not the unanimous vote required by most states that permit capital punishment.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
The timber rattlesnake is the only snake listed as endangered in Connecticut due to habitat loss and protected under state law.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 16 Apr. 2026
The Rolling Stone Culture Council is an invitation-only community for Influencers, Innovators and Creatives.
—Jd Barker, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for only
Recent Examples of Synonyms for only
Adverb
-
Worse still, Britain's kerosene stockpiles are very low — just one month's worth of supplies — compared with most of the rest of the world.—
Ian King,
CNBC,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Rea took the bulk of the innings following lefty Riley Martin’s perfect opening frame that required just six pitches to retire the top of the Phillies’ order.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
The Yankees’ bullpen hasn’t provided much relief lately.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
While the Yankees sent ace left-hander Max Fried to mound, the Angels had a bullpen game, with a bullpen that hasn’t been so good lately.—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
16 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
On many systems, deleting them merely removes their addresses from a registry, freeing the space to be overwritten.—
Julian Lucas,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
The Department of Justice later clarified that the man had been let go right away and that Yu merely failed to promptly tell the court.—
Sonja Sharp,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
His excellent size-speed combination, and aggressive downhill style creates disruption and turnover chances.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Another excellent option for sandy soil that Sing recommends is Russian sage (Salvia yangii).—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Drinkwater didn't make one appearance in a Chelsea shirt last season, whilst Bakayoko spent the season in Italy on loan at AC Milan.—
SI.com,
SI.com,
3 Aug. 2019
-
Decisions made by engineers today, in other words, will determine not how one car drives but how all cars drive.—
Johannes Himmelreich,
BostonGlobe.com,
30 Mar. 2018
Conjunction
-
But scientists and doctors say things aren’t that simple — and a belief that exposing children to marijuana, either directly or indirectly, is harmless isn’t supported by the facts.—
Daniel M. Jimenez,
The Cannifornian,
22 June 2017
-
But with a full and volatile season behind them, the two have grown closer, prompting check-ins from Bradford last month, seeking tidbits from his coach who watched OTA practices on a tablet from his Kentucky retreat.—
Chad Graff,
Twin Cities,
15 June 2017
Adverb
-
Still, Manning believes responsibility doesn’t fall solely on educators.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
18 Apr. 2026
-
One of the ways Wilkins hoped to get there was getting out of the wet Oregon weather and focusing solely on training in the year leading up to the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
17 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
That was the softball field where Miller launched three straight rocket shots late in the game Tuesday that went for a two-run homer, a double and an RBI single in South Elgin’s 15-7 Upstate Eight Conference victory over visiting West Aurora.—
Rick Armstrong,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Across the Atlantic Ocean in the Netherlands, people filed into a neo-Gothic cathedral late last month for a meeting of the Offline Club.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Only.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/only. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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