Lonesome — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ˈlōn(t)-səm/ lone·some

Meaning & Definition of Lonesome

Lonesome (adjective)

  1. sad or dejected as a result of lack of companionship or separation from others
  2. causing a feeling of loneliness
  3. remote, unfrequented

Lonesome (noun)

  1. self

Lonesome (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. sad from lack of companionship or separation from others

    "a lonesome kitten left at the pound by its hard-hearted owners"

    similar: desolate, forlorn, lonely, lorn
    related: friendless, abandoned, deserted, forgotten, forsaken, neglected, rejected, alone, lone, solitary, solo, unaccompanied, only, sole
    near: accompanied, attended, escorted

  2. not being in the company of others

    "a lonesome cypress tree on a rocky, windswept point"

    similar: alone, lone, lonely, single, solitary, solo, unaccompanied, on one's own
    related: unattended, unchaperoned, forlorn, friendless, cloistered, disassociated, hermetic, insulated, isolate, isolated, remote, retired, secluded, withdrawn, quarantined, segregated, separated, sequestered, separate, unattached, unconnected, unlinked, detached, disconnected, disjointed, dissociated, disunited, divided, fractionated, abandoned, adrift, deserted, desolate, forgotten, forsaken, lorn, neglected
    opposite: accompanied
    near: attended, chaperoned, escorted, adjacent, adjoining, communicating, contiguous, neighboring, next-door, attached, connected, coupled, linked

  3. causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer

    "the playground seems especially lonesome now that there are no young children in the neighborhood"

    similar: black, bleak, cheerless, chill, Cimmerian, cloudy, cold, comfortless, dark, darkening, depressing, depressive, desolate, dire, disconsolate, dismal, drear, dreary, dreich (chiefly Scottish), elegiac, forlorn, funereal, gloomy, glum, godforsaken, gray, lonely, lugubrious, miserable, morbid, morose, murky, plutonian, saturnine, sepulchral, solemn, somber, sullen, sunless, tenebrific, tenebrous, wretched
    related: blue, dejected, depressed, despondent, down, droopy, hangdog, inconsolable, low, melancholic, melancholy, mirthless, sad, unhappy, woebegone, woeful, dim, discomfiting, discouraging, disheartening, dismaying, dispiriting, distressful, distressing, upsetting, desperate, hopeless, pessimistic, lamentable, mournful, plaintive, sorrowful, colorless, drab, dull, dour, grim, lowering, lowery, menacing, negative, oppressive, threatening
    opposite: bright, cheerful, cheering, cheery, comforting, cordial, festive, friendly, gay, heartwarming, sunshiny
    near: blithe, blithesome, buoyant, gay, jocund, jolly, joyful, joyous, merry, mirthful, encouraging, hopeful, optimistic, lighthearted, lightsome

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Lonesome

The most common words with a similar meaning to Lonesome:

Chiefly Scottish: dreich
desolate, forlorn, lonely, lorn, alone, lone, single, solitary, solo, unaccompanied, black, bleak, cheerless, chill, Cimmerian, cloudy, cold, comfortless, dark, darkening, depressing, depressive, dire, disconsolate, dismal, drear, dreary, elegiac, funereal, gloomy, glum, godforsaken, gray, lugubrious, miserable, morbid, morose, murky, plutonian, saturnine

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Lonesome

Words with the opposite meaning of Lonesome:

accompanied, bright, cheerful, cheering, cheery, comforting, cordial, festive, friendly, gay, heartwarming, sunshiny

Related Words for Lonesome

friendless, abandoned, deserted, forgotten, forsaken, neglected, rejected, only, sole, unattended, unchaperoned, cloistered, disassociated, hermetic, insulated, isolate, isolated, remote, retired, secluded, withdrawn, quarantined, segregated, separated, sequestered, separate, unattached, unconnected, unlinked, detached

Near Antonyms of Lonesome

attended, escorted, chaperoned, adjacent, adjoining, communicating, contiguous, neighboring, next-door, attached, connected, coupled, linked, blithe, blithesome, buoyant, jocund, jolly, joyful, joyous, merry, mirthful, encouraging, hopeful, optimistic, lighthearted, lightsome

Word Forms of Lonesome

Derived words: lonesomely (adverb), lonesomeness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Lonesome

First known use: 1647

Words & Phrases Containing Lonesome

(all) by one's lonesome

Frequently Asked Questions about Lonesome

What does "Lonesome" mean?

"Lonesome" means sad or dejected as a result of lack of companionship or separation from others. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: sad or dejected as a result of lack of companionship or separation from others. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Lonesome"?

Other words for "Lonesome" include desolate, forlorn, lonely, lorn, alone, lone, single and solitary. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Lonesome" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Lonesome"?

There are 130 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Lonesome". Common alternatives include desolate, forlorn, lonely, lorn, alone, lone, single, solitary, solo and unaccompanied.

What is the opposite of "Lonesome"?

Antonyms of "Lonesome" include accompanied, bright, cheerful, cheering, cheery, comforting, cordial and festive. Near antonyms include attended, escorted, chaperoned and adjacent.

How do you use "Lonesome" in a sentence?

Examples of "Lonesome" in a sentence: "a lonesome kitten left at the pound by its hard-hearted owners"; "a lonesome cypress tree on a rocky, windswept point"; "the playground seems especially lonesome now that there are no young children in the neighborhood".

Is "Lonesome" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Lonesome" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Lonesome"?

"Lonesome" is pronounced /ˈlōn(t)-səm/ and divided into syllables as lone·some.

What is the origin of the word "Lonesome"?

First known use: 1647.