1
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
2
as in lone
not being in the company of others
a lonesome cypress tree on a rocky, windswept point
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in bleak
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer
the playground seems especially lonesome now that there are no young children in the neighborhood
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lonesome
Dylan took the exit on the county line and pulled into the lonesome border truck stop, pissed in the bathroom, paid for Bob’s coffee with cream and with sugar and took out three hundred dollars at the ATM.
—
Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2025
Heavyweights have begun to separate themselves in the standings, and the bottom of the leaderboard is looking especially lonesome.
—Garrett Chorpenning, New York Times, 11 July 2025
All these decades the educational establishment left Hillsdale College by its lonesome to reject federal funds in exchange for institutional independence.
—Amity Shlaes, National Review, 28 Apr. 2025
By the end of the night, however, any external, discerning traits fade away, leaving Scott by his lonesome.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lonesome
Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2025
Heavyweights have begun to separate themselves in the standings, and the bottom of the leaderboard is looking especially lonesome.
—Garrett Chorpenning, New York Times, 11 July 2025
All these decades the educational establishment left Hillsdale College by its lonesome to reject federal funds in exchange for institutional independence.
—Amity Shlaes, National Review, 28 Apr. 2025
By the end of the night, however, any external, discerning traits fade away, leaving Scott by his lonesome.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lonesome
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lonesome
Adjective
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Leave it to Shane Black to turn the lonely act of screenwriting into a contact sport.—
Benjamin Svetkey,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Oct. 2025
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One of the more criminally underrated films of the genre, this Frankenstein-esque tale stars Angela Bettis as the title woman, a lonely sort whose sole friend is a doll made by her mom.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The growing trend of player-for-player marking can also mean that teams can bypass an opponent’s midfield with direct passes when building up, allowing an attacking midfielder, two wingers, and a lone striker to stay high and push the opposition back towards their own goal.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
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Some investigators argued for a lone killer, while others suggested a network of individuals acting under occult motivations.—
Isadora Wandermurem,
Time,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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These are bleak times, and as fans continue to mourn the club’s decline, West Ham’s hierarchy have shifted their focus to the January transfer window.—
Roshane Thomas,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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As with many of Burton's best films, the real magic is the nuggets of human profundity hidden within the bleak imagery and whimsical comedy.—
Chris Snellgrove,
Entertainment Weekly,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Set in the early 20th-century Pacific Northwest, the film stars Joel Edgerton as Robert Grainier, a solitary railroad worker navigating profound personal loss as the American frontier expands around him.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
24 Oct. 2025
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Mikkel Damsgaard and Fabio Carvalho have scored with their solitary big chances, too.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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For a darker experience in the City of Light, venture beneath Paris and explore its hundreds of miles of catacombs.—
Sophie Friedman,
AFAR Media,
22 Oct. 2025
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Patrick wore a classic dark grey suit with coordinating pants and jacket.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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This faux Dunhill Fir is designed to look and feel like a tree plucked straight off the lot, without the single-season lifespan or mess of shedding needles.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 2025
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However, Daulton Varsho, who has been another clutch Blue Jays hitter throughout the postseason, smacked a single to center to score Springer to knot the game at one apiece.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Clowns, aliens and the mysteries of Denver Airport Nevada’s Extraterrestrial Highway – yes, it’s officially called that – runs through one of the most remote and desolate stretches of the United States.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
25 Oct. 2025
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To find the killer, Sherlock Holmes and Watson will have to brave desolate moors before a family curse dooms the newest heirs.—
Meredith G. White,
AZCentral.com,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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With all four members now boasting solo Hot 100 hits, BLACKPINK joins an elite lineage of groups of four or more members who have all scored solo entries on the chart.—
Xander Zellner,
Billboard,
21 Oct. 2025
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It’s designed to be applied as a radiant base for makeup or for solo wear.—
Tatayana Yomary,
Essence,
21 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lonesome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lonesome. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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