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 The august speakers included an Oxford don, a Harvard strategy professor, a New York Times reporter, and … me, the lone representative for the young and technologically adept, unencumbered by conventional wisdom. — Jeff Degraff, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026 His lone passing touchdown went to Jaron Tibbs in the fourth quarter to salt the game away. — Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2026 Morrow entered the game with a lone rushing touchdown over the first half of the season, but collected three scores totaling six yards in the first two quarters. — ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026 Arizona stands out as the lone swing state among the president's recent stops, though the airport rally was in a county Trump won with 78% of the vote in 2024. — Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lone

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lone

Adjective

Thinking that writing code was the only bottleneck for deploying new software is like the Titanic seeing the tip of the iceberg and assuming there was nothing underneath it.

— Brian Jenney, IEEE Spectrum, 23 Oct. 2026
Governors are responding the only way the current system allows.

— Neil Chatterjee, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of only

Adjective

SpaceX shares jumped nearly 8% on Wednesday, their best single-session performance since August.

— Morgan Chittum, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
The single-aisle jet, which can have up to 230 seats, was introduced at the Paris Air Show in 2017 to help Boeing compete with rival Airbus.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 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

Despite pledging to participate in multiple debates, Becerra brushed aside several invitations, agreeing to just a solitary one-hour face-off against Hilton on CNN in late September.

— Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
These silicon chunks are melted in bespoke crucibles made of the world’s purest quartz, virtually all of which is mined from a solitary deposit in the mountains of North Carolina.

— Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of solitary

Adjective

In the 1960s America launched the Vela fleet of satellites, whose sole task was to look at Earth’s surface and search for any telltale neutrons, x-rays and gamma rays—extremely high-energy particles—coming from a nuclear explosion.

— Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
The Manhunters rebelled against the Guardians, and most were killed; the sole survivor is hiding out in Rushville disguised as a human.

— Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of sole

Adjective

So when a new local food truck quickly leased the lot, solo style, promise refilled the air.

— Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 24 Oct. 2026
The Carolyn Campagna Kleefeld Contemporary Art Museum in Long Beach, CA, mounted his first solo institutional exhibition in 2023; his second solo museum exhibition will open at MoCA Tucson in Arizona in October.

— News Desk, Artforum, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of solo

Adjective

The two teams sat alone together in the Pac-12 while waiting for the rest to join.

— Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 22 Oct. 2026
Australia is not alone in facing opposition to data center projects, there has been growing push back against data center developments worldwide, amid concerns over their impact on local communities and the environment.

— Jenny Lee, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of alone

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“Lone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lone. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of lone

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Synonyms of lone

adjective

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Phrases Containing lone

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Cite this Entry

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