only 1 of 3

1
2
3
as in merely
nothing more than I was only fooling when I said I saw a shark in the water

Synonyms & Similar Words

only

2 of 3

adjective

1
as in excellent
having no equal or rival for excellence or desirability the only way to really appreciate the beauty of the forest is to walk through it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2

only

3 of 3

conjunction

as in but
if it were not for the fact that that's a very nice idea, only it won't help

Synonyms & Similar Words

Examples 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 only
Adverb
Rainbow eucalyptus is only hardy in Zones 9-11 and needs temperatures to remain above 50°F, so growing it indoors is the only way to keep it going in most parts of the country. Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Dec. 2024 This includes not only his work with the Beatles but also his solo hits and collaborations with Wings, Linda McCartney, and other artists. Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 10 Dec. 2024
Adjective
Mali is one of the world’s great musical cradles, and its sounds have been beguiling foreigners ever since the medieval explorer Ibn Battuta provided the only surviving eyewitness account of the empire. Eliot Stein, Rolling Stone, 9 Dec. 2024 Soto had the best year of his career in 2024 during his one and only season with the Yankees. Scott Thompson, Fox News, 9 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for only 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for only
Adverb
  • Founded by coffee enthusiast and marketing expert David Boucher, Escape Cafe stands out in the crowded specialty coffee niche, offering customers the highest quality beans and blends roasted just right every time.
    Tyler Shepherd, USA TODAY, 16 Dec. 2024
  • Board chairman Victor Cruz says the board’s critics just don’t understand how CDDs work, and blames financial problems on previous boards.
    Natalia Jaramillo, Orlando Sentinel, 15 Dec. 2024
Adverb
  • On the other side, Baker Mayfield has been sloppy lately but the Bucs seem to play their best against better opponents.
    Hank Gola, New York Daily News, 13 Dec. 2024
  • The price of crude oil has recovered lately as stronger policy signals from Chinese authorities have once again rekindled expectations of greater stimulus measures in 2025.
    Trefis Team, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Adverb
  • Demonstrating Leadership And Initiative Ambition without action is merely a dream.
    Rosalba Carandente, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
  • Yet, his courtship of Sunni elites merely created the illusion that Assad’s regime was inclusive.
    Sefa Secen / Made by History, TIME, 17 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • The excellent Shailene Woodley pulls off the toughest assignment as the prophetic (or mentally ill) daughter, but Zachary Qunto, Rebecca Henderson and Christopher Sears all forge empathetic beasts.
    Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 13 Dec. 2024
  • Develop Mobile Apps Another excellent and popular idea to build passive income is app creation.
    Rachel Wells, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
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
Conjunction
  • But scientists and doctors say things aren’t that simple — and a belief that exposing children to marijuana, either directly or indirectly, is harmless isn’t supported by the facts.
    Daniel M. Jimenez, The Cannifornian, 22 June 2017
  • But with a full and volatile season behind them, the two have grown closer, prompting check-ins from Bradford last month, seeking tidbits from his coach who watched OTA practices on a tablet from his Kentucky retreat.
    Chad Graff, Twin Cities, 15 June 2017
Adverb
  • But until last year, Globe noms were solely determined by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, a group of fewer than 100 people based in and around LA.
    Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Dec. 2024
  • For example, hit-and-run sales organizations focus solely on hitting numbers without investing in long-term success.
    James Loffler, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
Adverb
  • The Cardinals cut the lead to nine late in the third on a 2-yard pass from Murray to James Conner but didn’t score again.
    Michael-Shawn Dugar, The Athletic, 9 Dec. 2024
  • Mescal brought his acting intensity to sketches like one about a college student whose parents hate his new pierced ear, a scene about an actor struggling with a commercial for an Italian restaurant, and a pitch-perfect portrayal of his fellow countryman Bono late in the show.
    Omar L. Gallaga, Los Angeles Times, 8 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near only

Cite this Entry

“Only.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/only. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

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