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
Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 31 May 2026
Teams typically spend most of their tournaments at their base camps, only heading to match locations immediately ahead of their games.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 26 May 2026
Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 28 May 2026
This is the online version of Adam’s Biotech Scorecard, a subscriber-only newsletter.
—Adam Feuerstein, STAT, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for only
Adverb
Just 90 days into his premiership, Abiy, at the time only 41, stunned the world by negotiating a truce that ended a bitter 20-year civil war with neighboring Eritrea.
—Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 31 May 2026
Teams typically spend most of their tournaments at their base camps, only heading to match locations immediately ahead of their games.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 26 May 2026
Adjective
Monroe isn’t the only diva on Bonhams’ books.
—Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 28 May 2026
This is the online version of Adam’s Biotech Scorecard, a subscriber-only newsletter.
—Adam Feuerstein, STAT, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for only
Recent Examples of Synonyms for only
Adverb
-
Lunch and dinner are just as healthy, with simple recipes allowing the fresh food to shine.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 June 2026
-
Our angel was right there on the sidewalk, just past the young men.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
Adverb
-
Defensively, Durbin has been excellent, but offensively he’s ranked among the worst performers in the majors and has lately seen his playing time cut.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
30 May 2026
-
Most artists who’ve worked with the Swedish legend and his cohort lately have ended up in a similar musical ballpark.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
29 May 2026
Adverb
-
But that continued dedication to masking of any kind is not merely the result of unintelligence, or misplaced hypochondria, or even being affiliated with a specific political party.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2026
-
Admissions officers can differentiate between a teenager who has merely listed activities on their resume and one who has demonstrated accountability through a job outside of school.—
Sarah Hernholm,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Adjective
-
Seb Stafford-Bloor’s excellent Transfer Tiers series is moving on to central defenders today.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
-
The right-shot defenseman has had an excellent tournament for Finland, who advanced to the semifinals with a win over Czechia.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
28 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,
29 May 2026
-
Today, rumors circulating on social media in the DRC include false claims that Ebola is not real, that humanitarian workers are descending on the area solely for their own profit and that aid groups are withholding the best care available.—
Gabrielle Emanuel,
NPR,
29 May 2026
Adverb
-
Republican Steve Hilton, a former Fox News host, and former health secretary Xavier Becerra, a Democrat who emerged late in the campaign as a front-runner, led a crowded field in the California governor’s race Wednesday morning.—
Praveena Somasundaram,
Washington Post,
3 June 2026
-
There are, on average, two weddings a week at the resort; sometimes sound can carry from the beachfront reception, but the party never lasts too late in order to be respectful of guests.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Only.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/only. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
