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lone ranger
noun
often capitalized L&R
: one who acts alone and without consultation or the approval of others
broadly
: loner
Synonyms
Examples of lone ranger in a Sentence
something of a lone ranger among anthropologists, she does her research without either a lending hand or an eye toward trendy topics
Recent Examples on the Web
And while his rivals have landed serious blows against him, he’s embraced the tabloid-style frenzy at each of those junctures, incorporating them into his narrative identity as an underappreciated lone ranger constantly battling the world.
—TIME, 7 May 2024
Look, first of all, Netanyahu is not a lone ranger.
—Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2024
Each bike in the lineup is powered by the same 1,203 cc V-twin that pumps out 120 hp, but the new year will see new styling and colors for the FTR Sport, as well as a few choice performance modifications to help America’s lone ranger compete against the aforementioned competition.
—Peter Jackson, Robb Report, 29 Nov. 2022
But don’t mistake him for a lone ranger.
—Dan Hurley, Discover Magazine, 19 Dec. 2016
The desperate situation usually has an alternative, if only the lone ranger would tolerate his own vulnerability and fallibility.
—Jordan Kisner, The Atlantic, 19 Apr. 2021
Kaneland pitcher Emilee Erickson, wearing a protective face mask in Friday’s Class 3A state semifinal, was no lone ranger.
—Rick Armstrong, Aurora Beacon-News, 9 June 2018
Hanes doesn't believe J. Edgar Hoover or the Federal Bureau of Investigation was involved, nor a group of lone rangers.
—Ivana Hrynkiw, AL.com, 4 Apr. 2018
But, Adrienne, the press is already convinced that Donald Trump has a lone ranger style.
—Fox News, 11 Mar. 2018
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Word History
Etymology
Lone Ranger, hero of an American radio and television western
First Known Use
1924, in the meaning defined above
Articles Related to lone ranger
Dictionary Entries Near lone ranger
Cite this Entry
“Lone ranger.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lone%20ranger. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
More from Merriam-Webster on lone ranger
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lone ranger
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