lonely

[ lohn-lee ]

adjective

, lone·li·er, lone·li·est.

1. affected with, characterized by, or causing a depressing feeling of being alone; lonesome.
2. destitute of sympathetic or friendly companionship, intercourse, support, etc.:

   a lonely exile.

3. lone; solitary; without company; companionless.
4. remote from places of human habitation; desolate; unfrequented; bleak:

   a lonely road.

   Synonyms: unpopulated, uninhabited

5. standing apart; isolated:

   a lonely tower.

   Synonyms: secluded

lonely

/ ˈləʊnlɪ /

adjective

1. unhappy as a result of being without the companionship of others

   a lonely man

2. causing or resulting from the state of being alone

   a lonely existence

3. isolated, unfrequented, or desolate
4. without companions; solitary

Derived Forms

• ˈloneliness, noun

Other Words From

• loneli·ly adverb
• loneli·ness loneli·hood noun
• un·lonely adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of lonely¹

First recorded in 1600–10; lone + -ly

Synonym Study

See alone.

Example Sentences

They have also announced plans to release comeback album Constellations For The Lonely next year.

From BBC

It depicts a girl who decides to send a present to a boy who is feeling lonely, a nod to the retailer's toy bank scheme.

From BBC

“It is a very lonely and scary time in the beginning. I wanted to try and make it a little less lonely and a little less scary. Especially while everything else is going on in the world.”

From Los Angeles Times

Many of them aren't necessarily lonely: They meet interested men out and about, and have plenty of friends to keep them company.

From Salon

In “Snail,” a traumatized and lonely young Grace risks becoming a hoarding hermit until she bonds with the older Pinky, who is the essence of joie de vivre.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• deserted
• desolate
• destitute
• empty
• homeless
• isolated
• lonesome
• reclusive
• solitary