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alone

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adjective

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an alone time
a solitary time
a private time
a secluded time
a personal time
an alone group
a solitary group
an individual group
a separated group
a singular group
a separate group
an alone entity
a solo entity
a complete entity
a sole entity
an unique entity
a single entity
an alone system
a solo system
a solitary system
an individual system
an independent system
a separate system
an alone product
a single product
a complete product
a separate product
an independent product
a whole product

Synonym Chooser

How is the word alone distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of alone are desolate, forlorn, lonely, lonesome, lone, and solitary. While all these words mean "isolated from others," alone stresses the objective fact of being by oneself with slighter notion of emotional involvement than most of the remaining terms.

everyone needs to be alone sometimes

When can desolate be used instead of alone?

The meanings of desolate and alone largely overlap; however, desolate implies inconsolable grief at loss or bereavement.

desolate after her brother's death

When is forlorn a more appropriate choice than alone?

In some situations, the words forlorn and alone are roughly equivalent. However, forlorn stresses dejection, woe, and listlessness at separation from one held dear.

a forlorn lost child

How does the word lone relate to other synonyms for alone?

Lone may replace lonely or lonesome but typically is as objective as alone.

a lone robin pecking at the lawn

How do lonely and solitary relate to one another, in the sense of alone?

Lonely adds to solitary a suggestion of longing for companionship.

felt lonely and forsaken

In what contexts can lonesome take the place of alone?

The words lonesome and alone can be used in similar contexts, but lonesome heightens the suggestion of sadness and poignancy.

an only child often leads a lonesome life

When could solitary be used to replace alone?

While in some cases nearly identical to alone, solitary may indicate isolation as a chosen course, but more often it suggests sadness and a sense of loss.

glorying in the calm of her solitary life
left solitary by the death of his wife

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of alone
Adverb
What happens to this house should be a family decision, not yours alone. Jeanne Phillips, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2025 For context, a tummy tuck alone in the U.S. is about $8,000. Keydra Manns, Essence, 20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
And libraries are a great place to go and sit and be alone. Amiel Stanek, Bon Appétit, 17 Mar. 2025 And the Leafs winger wasn’t alone in his bewilderment. Joshua Kloke, The Athletic, 16 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for alone
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alone
Adverb
  • The announcement came one day after Skerry revealed that the university had only $120,000 to build a team compared with $1.1 million for the College of Charleston and $500,000 for UNC Wilmington.
    Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 11 Mar. 2025
  • But only a cynic would assert that his decision to appoint a Presidential Working Group on Digital Assets, not to mention the SEC’s Crypto Task Force, was an attempt to justify his memecoin degeneracy.
    Sean Lee, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Retirement has been described by many who struggle as being incredibly lonely.
    Lorraine Wiseman, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
  • Four months ago, the lonely widower met Anna Valenza.
    Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 17 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Drinkwater didn't make one appearance in a Chelsea shirt last season, whilst Bakayoko spent the season in Italy on loan at AC Milan.
    SI.com, SI.com, 3 Aug. 2019
  • Decisions made by engineers today, in other words, will determine not how one car drives but how all cars drive.
    Johannes Himmelreich, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Mar. 2018
Adverb
  • The recalled bottles were sold from Dec. 27, 2024 to Jan. 28, 2025 in the following states: Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas, the retailer and federal agency separately said.
    Kate Gibson, CBS News, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Khalil’s legal team has asked the judge to rule on the lawfulness of his detention and order his return to New York while his immigration matter separately plays out.
    Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 12 Mar. 2025
Adverb
  • Because Jalen Williams is a year older, is a year more physically mature and has grown into an All-Star in his own right, the bulk of the playoff offense won’t fall solely into the arms of NBA MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
    Tony Jones, The Athletic, 10 Mar. 2025
  • Typically, malicious extensions or apps are created solely to steal data, with their advertised functionality being an afterthought or simply a way to get listed in an official store.
    Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, Fox News, 8 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • As always, Kylian Mbappe is the lone number 9 up front.
    Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
  • Republican Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky defied Trump's guidance and was the lone House Republican to oppose the bill.
    Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025
Adverb
  • This followed the appearance of a tornado near Tuscaloosa just an hour earlier in the day.
    Mark Davis, Newsweek, 16 Mar. 2025
  • Keep a daily running score or just play for a new score each day.
    Erik Kain, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The slugger hasn't hit over .200 in a single season since 2019.
    Mark Davis, Newsweek, 17 Mar. 2025
  • Rock’s talent includes shooting down German fighter planes with a single submachine gun and tossing grenades with great accuracy.
    Justin Kroll, Deadline, 17 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Alone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alone. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

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