lonely
10 synonyms and 1 antonym for lonely, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Sad because of feeling isolated from other people.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. adjective
Sad because of feeling isolated from other people.
“The old man grew lonely after his wife died and his friends moved away.”
2. adjective
Empty of people; deserted.
“At night, the lonely beach was silent, with not a soul in sight.”
Opposites
How to use lonely
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
feel lonely
a lonely road
lonely nights
Etymology
From "lone" plus "-ly," or possibly a shortened form of "alonely."
Full origin of lonely →Frequently asked questions
What does “lonely” mean?
The word “lonely” means sad because of feeling isolated from other people. In plain terms, feeling sad and isolated from others, or (of a place) empty and deserted.
How do you pronounce “lonely”?
“Lonely” is pronounced LOHN-lee (/ˈloʊnli/ in IPA).
How do you use “lonely” in a sentence?
Here is “lonely” used in a sentence: “He felt lonely after moving to a new city where he knew no one.”
What is another word for “lonely”?
Words with a similar meaning to “lonely” include lonesome.
What part of speech is “lonely”?
“Lonely” is an adjective.
Is “lonely” a common word?
“Lonely” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “lonely” have?
“Lonely” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: sad because of feeling isolated from other people.
What is the difference between "lonely" and "alone"?
"Alone" simply means being by oneself, which can be neutral or even pleasant, while "lonely" describes the sad feeling of being isolated from other people. You can be alone without feeling lonely, and you can feel lonely even in a crowd.
What is the difference between "lonely" and "lonesome"?
Both describe sadness at feeling isolated from others, and they are close synonyms. "Lonesome" is more common in American and in informal or poetic use, while "lonely" is the more neutral, widely used term.
Can a place be described as "lonely"?
Yes. Besides describing a sad, isolated person, "lonely" can describe a place that is empty of people or deserted, as in "a lonely stretch of road." In that sense it means remote and unfrequented rather than emotionally sad.
