only 1 of 3

1
2
3
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

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

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
The surprise only gained weight when the Steelers continued to select other positions of need for its roster other than quarterback on day two. Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2025 At the other end, the bottom 49% of filers — representing essentially half of filers statewide — paid only 2.9% of the income tax. Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 27 Apr. 2025
Adjective
Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart was the only other quarterback selected in the first round Thursday night—the New York Giants traded up to No. 25 for the right to select him. Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 26 Apr. 2025 The Giants weren’t the only ones to pass on Shedeur Sanders after an extensive scouting process. Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for only
Recent Examples of Synonyms for only
Adverb
  • And just to keep things interesting, Kingston wasn’t quite done adventuring.
    Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 3 May 2025
  • Goldschmidt’s homer was just his third of the season, but his second in as many games.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 3 May 2025
Adverb
  • That was always the case, though it’s been trending hard in that direction lately.
    Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 29 Apr. 2025
  • Results in China, which was been a drag lately , were not terrible, either.
    Jeff Marks, CNBC, 29 Apr. 2025
Adverb
  • Now the decision of whether or not to contact Anne was merely a type of responsibility, an intrusion.
    Lillian Fishman, New Yorker, 4 May 2025
  • But the man doesn’t flinch and merely holds out his hand before being asked; instead, Isaac shoots and kills him.
    Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 4 May 2025
Adjective
  • At a minimum, professionals are looking for dependable inventory, top-quality and professional-grade equipment, effortless trade-ins, excellent customer service and reliable and fast repairs.
    Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 30 Apr. 2025
  • Incorporating a mudroom into your home is an excellent way to add value to your space.
    Sarah Lyon, Architectural Digest, 30 Apr. 2025
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
  • Saylor also wrote that the student's record record wouldn't be updated based solely on an unspecified finding in the National Crime Information Center that resulted in her termination.
    Bart Jansen, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2025
  • As for the cost of solar microgrids, the off-grid study mentioned earlier showed near parity in costs of using microgrids powered with a mix of solar and gas and solely gas-powered ones.
    Greg Robinson, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Adverb
  • Gobert was unplayable for parts of the series against the Lakers, and was sometimes benched late in games.
    Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 4 May 2025
  • Against Bournemouth, there were a couple of unusually shaky moments for goalkeeper David Raya, whose passing seems to have become a little more erratic of late.
    James McNicholas, New York Times, 3 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Only.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/only. Accessed 11 May. 2025.

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