lone

adjective

ˈlōn How to pronounce lone (audio)
Definition of lonenext
1
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
2
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 2014 comic that provides the inspiration for the show put a lot of work into emphasizing Kamala Khan’s connection to her family and neighborhood, a trick lifted from Marvel’s very first lone teen hero, Spider-Man. —Nola Pfau, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2025 His lone loss was allowing three runs on six hits and three walks in three innings on April 5 at Wrigley Field, a start sandwiched by a pair of seven-inning, zero-run gems. —Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2025 The Natural Disasters are the lone tag team to be inducted this season. —Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 16 Apr. 2025 Following his lone season at UCF after transferring from UAB, McWilliams is now firmly on teams’ radar. —Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 14 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lone
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lone
  1. only
  2. single
  3. one
  4. solitary
  5. sole
  6. lonely
  7. special
  8. solo
Adjective
  • His father and uncle — the only two remaining rail car workers in the neighborhood — still live there.
    — Janice Neumann, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2025
  • This is especially true when tourism is the primary—or in some cases the only—economic driver.
    — Shoshi Parks, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of only
Adjective
  • The singer-songwriter first announced the single in January 2024 with an audio excerpt posted on Instagram.
    — Abigail Lee, Variety, 11 Apr. 2025
  • Without a single source of truth, organizations struggle to make informed decisions, manage costs or build resilience in the face of unpredictability.
    — Sarah Jones, Sourcing Journal, 10 Apr. 2025
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
  • Of Kompany’s eight outfield substitutes on Tuesday, two — Lennart Karl and Jonah Kusi-Asare (both 17) have never played a Bundesliga or European minute for the club, and a third, Jonathan Asp (19) only has a solitary senior minute to his name.
    — Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Well, that and transforming a deeply solitary hobby into something much more communal.
    — Leila Herrmann, Vogue, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of solitary
Adjective
  • Garland has long been fascinated by failures of the human imagination, and the sole purpose of this 93-minute immersion test is to bring the unvarnished truth of what those SEALs experienced in Ramadi closer to home.
    — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 28 Mar. 2025
  • In January 2024, the man’s father died, leaving Sullivan as his sole caretaker.
    — Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of sole
Adjective
  • This keeps us lonely at a time when the loneliness public health crisis is at an all-time high.
    — Priya Vulchi, Time, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Ro, now a police officer, needs help investigating the death 22 years earlier of their classmate, Ricky, killed in a hit-and-run on a lonely county road.
    — Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 6 Apr. 2025
Definition of lonely
Adjective
  • Lawmakers can call themselves back to the Capitol in Boise for special sessions with a petition signed by at least 60% of the House and Senate.
    — Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 15 Apr. 2025
  • Typically, a Seder plate is made up for the special gathering and contains six parts that symbolize Exodus.
    — Greta Cross, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of special
Adjective
  • The island feels calmer and cleaner, now attracting a wider mix of visitors: honeymooners, families and solo travelers alike.
    — Livia Hengel, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Freddie Freeman also found the right-field seats for a solo blast two batters later.
    — Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2025
Definition of solo

Phrases Containing lone

Browse Nearby Words

lollygags
lone
loneliness
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Cite this Entry

“Lone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lone. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

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