ONLY Synonyms: 244 Similar and Opposite Words

only 1 of 3

adverb

Definition of only next

as in just

for nothing other than you're doing that only to annoy me

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in lately

not long ago we won the election only six days ago

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in merely

nothing more than I was only fooling when I said I saw a shark in the water

Synonyms & Similar Words

only

2 of 3

adjective

ˈōn-lē

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

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

only

3 of 3

conjunction

as in but

if it were not for the fact that that's a very nice idea, only it won't help

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

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

With those two pitches shining for Springs, the only other Yankees to reach base before Rice were José Caballero, who got on via a third-inning error from third baseman Andy Ibáñez; Amed Rosario, who worked a walk later in the inning; and Giancarlo Stanton, who earned a free pass in the seventh. —

Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 9 Apr. 2026 The Masters holds a lottery nearly a year in advance, which is the only way to buy official tickets. —

Rachel Treisman, NPR, 9 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for only

Recent Examples of Synonyms for only

Adverb

The defendant had just delivered a box of Barbies to the family’s Wise County home — Barbies that Athena’s stepmother had ordered as a Christmas gift for the 7-year-old.

— Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Apr. 2026
The total construction area is just shy of 2,900 square feet — about the size of a standard tennis court.

— Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 8 Apr. 2026