lone ranger

noun

often capitalized L&R
: one who acts alone and without consultation or the approval of others
broadly : loner

Examples of lone ranger in a Sentence

something of a lone ranger among anthropologists, she does her research without either a lending hand or an eye toward trendy topics
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
And while his rivals have landed serious blows against him, he’s embraced the tabloid-style frenzy at each of those junctures, incorporating them into his narrative identity as an underappreciated lone ranger constantly battling the world. TIME, 7 May 2024 Look, first of all, Netanyahu is not a lone ranger. Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Lone Ranger, hero of an American radio and television western

First Known Use

1924, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lone ranger was in 1924

Dictionary Entries Near lone ranger

Cite this Entry

“Lone ranger.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lone%20ranger. Accessed 5 Jan. 2025.

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