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
Quantum internet removes that risk by ensuring only the sender and receiver can read a message, so not even the hosting platform can access it. Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, FOXNews.com, 14 Apr. 2025 Ball played only 35 games of the regular season despite making an unprecedented return from a two-season absence following a rare knee cartilage transplant. Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
Beyond vaccines and immunization Even from its earliest days, vaccine-preventable and infectious diseases were far from the Epidemic Intelligence Service’s only focus. Casey Luc, The Conversation, 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 See All Example Sentences for only
Recent Examples of Synonyms for only
Adverb
  • By episode 2, the former Fireflies make it to an area just outside Jackson and see how heavily fortified the city is.
    Eliana Dockterman, Time, 21 Apr. 2025
  • But the Heat then scored just 21 points while shooting 1 of 6 (16.7 percent) on threes in the fourth quarter.
    Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2025
Adverb
  • Some industry veterans have expressed concern lately about FAST saturation in the U.S., given the ongoing challenges for viewers looking to discover programming and advertisers and programmers trying to reach and retain viewers.
    Dade Hayes, Deadline, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Lopez has been spending a lot of time in New York lately, and her outfits have ranged from casual and comfortable looks to the highest octane slays, and sometimes even both at the same time.
    Aamina Inayat Khan, StyleCaster, 17 Apr. 2025
Adverb
  • Rather than merely illustrating corporate omnipotence, Vara exposes the fragility of the technology itself: a nonhuman force that still depends on humanity—and is unable to encompass it.
    Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The banking industry strongly opposed the Biden rule, which would cap overdraft fees at just $5 for banks and financial institutions with more than $10 billion in assets unless the institutions opt for a fee that merely covers their own costs or treat the overdraft payment as a loan.
    Zach Halaschak, The Washington Examiner, 9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Scott McKenna bossing the defence, Fabio Silva scoring goals for fun, Oli McBurnie bashing around and suddenly speaking excellent Spanish… this is a cause to believe in.
    Jack Lang, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2025
  • In a survey of more than 15,000 users after its rollout in 2024, 90% of respondents ranked their experience as excellent or above average.
    Rachel Barber, USA Today, 19 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
  • Blanketing our communities with descriptions that focus solely on crime is dishonest and hinders our efforts to achieve peace, especially those of us who have survived the unthinkable loss of a loved one to murder.
    Clementina Chery, Boston Herald, 13 Apr. 2025
  • Ignoring these threats and relying solely on existing norms for protection is not an effective countermeasure.
    Andrew Hanna, Time, 13 Apr. 2025
Adverb
  • Colossal said two of the dire wolves were born late last year, while the third arrived in early 2025.
    Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 11 Apr. 2025
  • This isn't the first time Monk has suffered a major injury late in the season.
    Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Only.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/only. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.

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