only 1 of 3

adverb

Definition of onlynext
1
as in just
for nothing other than you're doing that only to annoy me

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in lately
not long ago we won the election only six days ago

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

ˈōn-lē How to pronounce only (audio)
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

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

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 only
Adverb
While most businesses invest in AI, only 5% of generative AI projects deliver real returns, with many failing due to unclear business value. — Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 Atkinson made five saves, while Bay’s Jordan Silkowitz had just one, though Chicago was only outshot 14-13 overall. — Michael Nowels, Mercury News, 10 Aug. 2026
Adjective
For most of automotive history, the only way to buy a new vehicle was through a dealership. — Sean Tucker, AJC.com, 7 Aug. 2026 The order’s singling out of ibogaine, the only psychedelic mentioned by name, surprised analysts, given how much less research exists on it than on psilocybin or MDMA. — Michelle Lhooq, New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for only
Recent Examples of Synonyms for only
  1. just
  2. lately
  3. merely
  4. excellent
  5. one
  6. but
  7. solely
  8. late
Adverb
  • By chance, her parents and her sister had left the house just three days before the strike, because her mother couldn’t sleep.
    — Ava Bambuck, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026
  • In the same way that London is more than just red buses, black cabs, and a rather large parliamentary clock, England is more than just the vigor of London.
    — Katie Silcox, Vogue, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of just
Adverb
  • The Indiana Fever — a habitual middle-of-the-pack franchise, 14 years removed from its only championship — have been on a hot streak on the court lately that has carried them up among the championship contenders.
    — Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Cinema has lately exhausted the emotional mileage of the Ukraine–EU border, but one wittily choreographed setpiece involving the couple’s border crossing finds in transition an ingenious point of convergence between gender and geography.
    — Sonya Vseliubska, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of lately
Adverb
  • Developers frequently overlook critical sandbox setup, configuration, and monitoring, creating vulnerabilities that AI merely exploits.
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Home Assistant runs the lights, sensors, routines and small acts of automation that make the house feel responsive rather than merely connected.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of merely
Adjective
  • The neighborhood/area Just across the train tracks is Vesterbro with an excellent range of independent shops and restaurants, not least in Kødbyen, the Meat Packing district.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026
  • As for dining options, Cafe Genevieve serves an excellent breakfast and brunch, and Million Dollar Cowboy Bar draws crowds for a taste of Western-style eats like bison burgers and elk sliders.
    — Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of excellent
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
Definition of one
Conjunction
  • 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
  • The tech firm didn’t pull that video down, but reached out to police.
    — Queenie Wong, The Mercury News, 3 May 2017
Definition of but
Adverb
  • Instead of relying solely on natural extracts, Reome works with biotech labs to recreate botanical molecules through processes like fermentation or plant cell cultures.
    — Kati Chitrakorn, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
  • To home in on targets, Auterion’s software relies solely on the visual information available from the Shrike drone’s main onboard camera.
    — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of solely
Adverb
  • Meanwhile, Iraqi pro-militia outlet Naya late on Monday reported an explosion in Kuwait overnight that could be heard in Basrah Province.
    — Mike Sheen, CNBC, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The Falcons were conducting a two-minute drill late in their seventh practice of training camp when Walker fell while rounding the corner on a pass rush.
    — Josh Kendall, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of late

Browse Nearby Words

onlookers
only
on no account
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Only.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/only. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

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