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as in lonely
sad from lack of companionship or separation from others a lonesome kitten left at the pound by its hard-hearted owners

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word lonesome distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of lonesome are alone, desolate, forlorn, lonely, lone, and solitary. While all these words mean "isolated from others," lonesome heightens the suggestion of sadness and poignancy.

an only child often leads a lonesome life

When is alone a more appropriate choice than lonesome?

In some situations, the words alone and lonesome are roughly equivalent. However, 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 could desolate be used to replace lonesome?

While in some cases nearly identical to lonesome, desolate implies inconsolable grief at loss or bereavement.

desolate after her brother's death

When is it sensible to use forlorn instead of lonesome?

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

a forlorn lost child

How does the word lone relate to other synonyms for lonesome?

Lone may replace lonely or lonesome but typically is as objective as alone.

a lone robin pecking at the lawn

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

Lonely adds to solitary a suggestion of longing for companionship.

felt lonely and forsaken

When can solitary be used instead of lonesome?

The meanings of solitary and lonesome largely overlap; 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 lonesome To rescue his beloved pup, Birney’s lonesome character must enter OBEX’s fantastical medieval realm, where odd creatures dwell, and defeat IXAROTH in his castle. Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 31 Jan. 2025 Beyond its many plot holes and lackluster plot, the second season saw Reacher team up with his ex-army buddies, which kind of defeats the entire point of Reacher being a one-man army who can take down even the most intimidating foes all by his lonesome. Erik Kain, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025 The penguin had left on a lonesome pilgrimage, solus rex, and no one had the slightest clue why. Christian Kracht, Harper's Magazine, 2 Nov. 2024 Emo act Barely Civil has the perfect album for you, and for these times, throwing bitter screams against lonesome whispers, tender guitar melodies against heart-bursting rock onslaughts, grand statements against intimate emotional excavations. Piet Levy, Journal Sentinel, 16 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for lonesome
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lonesome
Adjective
  • Retirement has been described by many who struggle as being incredibly lonely.
    Lorraine Wiseman, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
  • The withdrawn San Francisco drama, about lonely nonbinary nanny and restaurant server Cass (Asia Kate Dillon), is simple in its presentation, but disguises numerous layers to its story.
    Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 17 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • As always, Kylian Mbappe is the lone number 9 up front.
    Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
  • On Friday, the Royals officially announced Alex Gordon as the lone inductee in the 2025 class.
    Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Even the relatively staid premiere stole a handful of grim chuckles thanks to its guest star’s exceedingly blasé delivery of impossibly bleak news.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 9 Mar. 2025
  • However, experts have raised concerns about the health of the American economy, warning that the outlook for U.S. businesses and consumers may be bleak, a sentiment shared by many industry executives.
    Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The two are also both solitary/internal experiences.
    Eric Wood, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
  • Keep a distance from tall, solitary trees or other elevated structures.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 17 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Boat Rocker’s slate currently comprises the likes of 1980s throwback dark comedy Video Nasty, drama series Mix Tape and Jesse Moss and Tony Gerber’s Sundance 2024 doc War Game.
    Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 11 Mar. 2025
  • The outage was random and intermittent, lasting for 45 minutes at a time, then resuming only to go dark again for another 45 minutes.
    John Brandon, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Marple’s team typically begins an organizing session by pulling every single belonging out and categorizing it all.
    Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 17 Mar. 2025
  • The slugger hasn't hit over .200 in a single season since 2019.
    Mark Davis, Newsweek, 17 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • That quality is maintained first and foremost by a desolate whistling-wind sound effect in the background of all the scenes, along with a sustained droning musical score.
    Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 14 Mar. 2025
  • But a tire mark left on a desolate road near a missing woman’s car changes everything.
    Ashlee Conour, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Despite winning the Academy’s gold medal in 1925 and earning critical praise for her first solo exhibition at Gurlitt’s, Berlin, in 1930, Laserstein took on an array of jobs creating decorative art and illustrating an anatomy text.
    Natasha Gural, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
  • Prince burst onto the music scene with For You in 1978, one year before Jackson came into his own as a solo creative force with Off the Wall.
    Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 15 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Lonesome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lonesome. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

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