1
as in just
for nothing other than
you're doing that only to annoy me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
as in one
being the one or ones of a class with no other members
that is the only possible right answer we were the only passengers on the tour bus
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of only
Clayton Davis, Variety, 10 Mar. 2025
And these defensive struggles were only exacerbated by the Clippers’ ability to capitalize on mistakes, scoring 29 points off 16 turnovers.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2025
Nicol Natale, People.com, 9 Mar. 2025
Currently, the only way to stop a violent interaction is to call 911.
—Sarah Lustbader, The New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for only
Adverb
Despite their dominance in digital entertainment, YouTube creators have only recently begun attempting to break into awards conversations.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 10 Mar. 2025
And these defensive struggles were only exacerbated by the Clippers’ ability to capitalize on mistakes, scoring 29 points off 16 turnovers.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
Oprah isn’t the only fan of quarter-zip styles — Martha Stewart, Dakota Johnson, and more celebs are also in on the trend.
—Nicol Natale, People.com, 9 Mar. 2025
Currently, the only way to stop a violent interaction is to call 911.
—Sarah Lustbader, The New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for only
Recent Examples of Synonyms for only
Adverb
-
Keep a daily running score or just play for a new score each day.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes,
16 Mar. 2025
-
This followed the appearance of a tornado near Tuscaloosa just an hour earlier in the day.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
16 Mar. 2025
Adverb
-
Though that seemed to decline in the immediate aftermath of the Flyers trading away Scott Laughton and Erik Johnson last Friday, they’ve at least been more energized lately.—
Kevin Kurz,
The Athletic,
14 Mar. 2025
-
Retailers have lately warned of softer consumer demand amid concerns that President Trump's ongoing tariffs could propel prices higher.—
Kate Gibson,
CBS News,
13 Mar. 2025
Adverb
-
The pandemic, while a catalyst for change, merely accelerated existing trends and exposed underlying vulnerabilities.—
Pablo Listingart,
Forbes,
18 Mar. 2025
-
Game of Pets poses the question: What if life on Earth is merely a board game being played by giant animals whose avatars happen to be . . .—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
18 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
After an excellent debut, Nikki Glaser has unsurprisingly been tapped to host the Golden Globes again.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
13 Mar. 2025
-
It is often climbed as a three day objective and is an excellent venue for extended roped glacier travel.—
Sean McNally,
Outdoor Life,
13 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
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
-
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
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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
Adverb
-
Their bench, which was a weapon down the stretch of the 2023-24 season and a useful group in the playoffs, has been struggling of late.—
Tony East,
Forbes,
20 Mar. 2025
-
The move follows in the footsteps of neighbors and NATO allies Finland, Norway and Sweden, which late last year also updated guidance to their citizens on how to survive war.—
Astha Rajvanshi,
NBC News,
20 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Only.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/only. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
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