lonely

[lohn-lee]

adjective

lonelier, loneliest 

1. affected with, characterized by, or causing a depressing feeling of being alone; lonesome.

2. destitute of sympathetic or friendly companionship, intercourse, support, etc..

   a lonely exile.

3. lone; solitary; without company; companionless.

4. remote from places of human habitation; desolate; unfrequented; bleak.

   a lonely road.

   Synonyms: unpopulated, uninhabited

5. standing apart; isolated.

   a lonely tower.

   Synonyms: secluded

lonely

/ ˈləʊnlɪ /

adjective

1. unhappy as a result of being without the companionship of others

   a lonely man

2. causing or resulting from the state of being alone

   a lonely existence

3. isolated, unfrequented, or desolate

4. without companions; solitary

Other Word Forms

• lonelily adverb
• loneliness noun
• lonelihood noun
• unlonely adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of lonely¹

First recorded in 1600–10; lone + -ly

Synonym Study

See alone.

Example Sentences

The stories I saw were tragic: Gay men were lonely, addicted, dying.

From Los Angeles Times

C6 told the inquiry she now feels "different" to everybody else, including some other survivors, and recovery is "lonely".

From BBC

But there are times where it’s still kind of a lonely existence.

From Los Angeles Times

"Being part of a family that has a child with a disability or life-limiting condition can be really lonely, scary and increasingly expensive", Ms Evans said.

From BBC

With limited use of first-team facilities, it is a lonely existence.

From BBC

Related Words

• deserted 
• desolate 
• destitute 
• empty 
• homeless 
• isolated 
• lonesome 
• reclusive www.thesaurus.com
• solitary