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
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 only
Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 10 May 2026
Ball State’s Rogers, who had only three kills in the first set, came out revitalized in the second set and delivered nine scoring blows.
—Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 10 May 2026
K.j. Yossman, Variety, 7 May 2026
With weak credit standards and features like prepayment penalties, interest-only payments, balloon payments and negative amortization, the subprime mortgage space was not concerned about the borrowers’ ability to repay the mortgage.
—Jeff Lazerson, Oc Register, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for only
Adverb
And this party’s only about to get Wilder.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 10 May 2026
Ball State’s Rogers, who had only three kills in the first set, came out revitalized in the second set and delivered nine scoring blows.
—Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 10 May 2026
Adjective
But Mary Bennet isn’t the only character in Jane Austen’s novels who Jane Austen gives a bit of a side eye to and that is really what interests me.
—K.j. Yossman, Variety, 7 May 2026
With weak credit standards and features like prepayment penalties, interest-only payments, balloon payments and negative amortization, the subprime mortgage space was not concerned about the borrowers’ ability to repay the mortgage.
—Jeff Lazerson, Oc Register, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for only
Recent Examples of Synonyms for only
Adverb
-
Gas in Los Angeles averages just over $6 per gallon as of Tuesday, per AAA.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
13 May 2026
-
Surveillance camera footage captured Mott scaling an 8-foot fence topped with barbed wire at the perimeter of the airport in just 15 seconds, then walking across the runway.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
Adverb
-
Ann Wilson has been penning poetry lately.—
Charisma Madarang,
Rolling Stone,
8 May 2026
-
Morgan has been providing that spark a lot lately for the Porters.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
8 May 2026
Adverb
-
While the joke might’ve been harsh, Brady is merely returning the favor; Hart was one of the many comedians present at his own 2024 roast.—
Payton Turkeltaub,
Variety,
11 May 2026
-
And somehow all of this was merely the appetizer — for an even more outrageous spectacle.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
10 May 2026
Adjective
-
Conversations around excellent kebabs in Southern California tend to begin with the Martirosyan family and their Mini Kabob in Glendale.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
-
The lighting, art design and score are all excellent – and the single shot construction gives the film a dreamy, meditative quality.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
7 May 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
-
All opinions expressed by the CNBC Pro contributors are solely their opinions and do not reflect the opinions of CNBC, or its parent company or affiliates, and may have been previously disseminated by them on television, radio, internet or another medium.—
Jeff Kilburg,
CNBC,
8 May 2026
-
Readers should not rely solely on the content of this article and are encouraged to seek professional advice tailored to their specific circumstances.—
Jon Stojan,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
Adverb
-
Most of them were spent on the third defensive pairing, and then the 22-year-old was scratched for Tyson Hinds late in the year as Quenneville favored the size of Hinds, who spent most of his season in the American Hockey League.—
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
-
Cummins, who worked as a senior vice president at Serco, a government contractor that works with local and federal agencies, would take over a TSA bruised by the longest partial government shutdown in history, which ended late last month.—
Jesse Bedayn,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Only.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/only. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
