LONE Synonyms: 103 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'lone' distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of lone are alone , desolate , forlorn , lonely , lonesome , and solitary . While all these words mean "isolated from others," lone may replace lonely or lonesome but typically is as objective as alone . // a lone robin pecking at the lawn

Q: When would 'alone' be a good substitute for 'lone'?

The words alone and lone can be used in similar contexts, but alone stresses the objective fact of being by oneself with slighter notion of emotional involvement than most of the remaining terms. // everyone needs to be alone sometimes

Q: When is it sensible to use 'desolate' instead of 'lone'?

The meanings of desolate and lone largely overlap; however, desolate implies inconsolable grief at loss or bereavement. // desolate after her brother's death

Q: When is 'forlorn' a more appropriate choice than 'lone'?

Although the words forlorn and lone have much in common, forlorn stresses dejection, woe, and listlessness at separation from one held dear. // a forlorn lost child

Q: How are the words 'lonely' and 'solitary' related as synonyms of 'lone'?

Lonely adds to solitary a suggestion of longing for companionship. // felt lonely and forsaken

Q: When might 'lonesome' be a better fit than 'lone'?

The synonyms lonesome and lone are sometimes interchangeable, but lonesome heightens the suggestion of sadness and poignancy. // an only child often leads a lonesome life

Q: When can 'solitary' be used instead of 'lone'?

In some situations, the words solitary and lone are roughly equivalent. However, solitary may indicate isolation as a chosen course, but more often it suggests sadness and a sense of loss. // glorying in the calm of her solitary life // left solitary by the death of his wife

lone

adjective

ˈlōn

Definition of lone

as in only

being the one or ones of a class with no other members the lone ripe apple in the entire bag

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in single

not being in the company of others just one lone cow in the middle of the field

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word lone distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of lone are alone, desolate, forlorn, lonely, lonesome, and solitary. While all these words mean "isolated from others," lone may replace lonely or lonesome but typically is as objective as alone.

a lone robin pecking at the lawn

When would alone be a good substitute for lone?

The words alone and lone can be used in similar contexts, but alone stresses the objective fact of being by oneself with slighter notion of emotional involvement than most of the remaining terms.

everyone needs to be alone sometimes

When is it sensible to use desolate instead of lone?

The meanings of desolate and lone largely overlap; however, desolate implies inconsolable grief at loss or bereavement.

desolate after her brother's death

When is forlorn a more appropriate choice than lone?

Although the words forlorn and lone have much in common, forlorn stresses dejection, woe, and listlessness at separation from one held dear.

a forlorn lost child

How are the words lonely and solitary related as synonyms of lone?

Lonely adds to solitary a suggestion of longing for companionship.

felt lonely and forsaken

When might lonesome be a better fit than lone?

The synonyms lonesome and lone are sometimes interchangeable, but lonesome heightens the suggestion of sadness and poignancy.

an only child often leads a lonesome life

When can solitary be used instead of lone?

In some situations, the words solitary and lone are roughly equivalent. However, solitary may indicate isolation as a chosen course, but more often it suggests sadness and a sense of loss.

glorying in the calm of her solitary life

left solitary by the death of his wife

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 lone In each instance, the vote was 6-1, with Trustee Shannon Braun the lone dissenting vote. — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Aug. 2026 Marine Fauthoux, however, is the lone Liberty Frenchie to not make the squad. — Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 25 Aug. 2026 The carrier has since been at sea for more than 250 consecutive days during its nine-month deployment, marking a record-breaking stint for a carrier without a port stop, according to a review of the lone port-stop announcements and the prior record. — Chris Quintana, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026 Best of all, a day will come, finally, when the moon is no longer the lone holder of such hallmarks of humanity. — Mike Brown, Scientific American, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lone

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lone

Adjective

Thus far, these states are the only ones the CDC has confirmed as related to one another and traced back to the lettuce.

— Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
The police will have to disclose only reports of crimes that took place on the campus itself, and not reports concerning burglary, larceny and other offenses, which the judge deemed irrelevant.

— Joaquin Sapien, ProPublica, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of only

Adjective

There isn’t room on a roster to list all the positions where North Chicago senior Amari Earl could play in a single game.

— Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026
Furthermore, the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index retreated significantly from the record high set in the previous session, tumbling nearly 8% overnight to mark its largest single-day loss since June 5.

— , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of single

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

Definition of one

Adjective

However, many trade associations include sole proprietors who don't qualify for an AHP, and some organizations have members in a range of industries.

— Sarah Agostino, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Players who complete a series of optional quests involving the Divine Child—a young girl who is the sole survivor of experiments by the heretical monks of Ashina’s Senpou Temple—can choose the Return ending.

— Aman Kumar, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of sole

Adjective

Both albums featured their remarkable three-part harmonies, often with two of the three singing back-up while the third took solo duties.

— Greg Evans, Deadline, 25 Aug. 2026
Winter, who was 23 at the time of the performance, is reportedly one of the youngest ever solo headliners to perform at Carnegie Hall, but Bob Dylan edged him in 1963 at age 22.

— Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of solo

Adjective

The wife of an active-duty Army sergeant was deported to Honduras, leaving her husband at Fort Bliss to raise their 6-year-old daughter alone and reconsider his military future.

— Jack Brook, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Disney isn’t alone in looking for ways to offset the rising cost of health coverage, which remains tied to employment for millions of Americans.

— Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of alone

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“Lone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lone. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of lone

adjective

Synonym Chooser

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Phrases Containing lone

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

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