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

Dusty and a little lonely, they don’t capture the Amish communion, he said.

From New York Times

Nevertheless, Elphaba begins to dance, executing every move as a woman boldly and unashamedly herself, even if it means remaining as lonely as ever.

From Los Angeles Times

“Being a spy means being lonely,” she says, missing the point of the series she’s in.

From Los Angeles Times

They lead an isolated and often lonely life, the women agreed.

From Science Daily

“It felt very lonely — no one else was doing that. We looked around for allies — other pro-nuclear groups. … There just weren’t very many.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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