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forlorn

adjective
for·​lorn | \ fÉ™r-ˈlȯrn How to pronounce forlorn (audio) , fȯr-\

Definition of forlorn

1a : bereft, forsaken left quite forlorn of hope
b : sad and lonely because of isolation or desertion : desolate a forlorn landscape
2 : being in poor condition : miserable, wretched forlorn tumbledown buildings
3 : nearly hopeless a forlorn attempt
Other Words from forlorn Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about forlorn

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Other Words from forlorn

forlornly adverb
forlornness \ fÉ™r-​ˈlȯrn-​nÉ™s How to pronounce forlornness (audio) , fȯr-​ \ noun

Choose the Right Synonym for forlorn

alone, solitary, lonely, lonesome, lone, forlorn, desolate mean isolated from others. alone stresses the objective fact of being by oneself with slighter notion of emotional involvement than most of the remaining terms. everyone needs to be alone sometimes solitary may indicate isolation as a chosen course glorying in the calm of her solitary life but more often it suggests sadness and a sense of loss. left solitary by the death of his wife lonely adds to solitary a suggestion of longing for companionship. felt lonely and forsaken lonesome heightens the suggestion of sadness and poignancy. an only child often leads a lonesome life lone may replace lonely or lonesome but typically is as objective as alone. a lone robin pecking at the lawn forlorn stresses dejection, woe, and listlessness at separation from one held dear. a forlorn lost child desolate implies inconsolable grief at loss or bereavement. desolate after her brother's death

Examples of forlorn in a Sentence

Against the forlorn backdrop of the muddy terrain the media circus has left behind, the young mother is photographed for a fashion spread wearing a … white dress. — James Wolcott, Vanity Fair, September 1998 There is nothing quite so forlorn as a closed factory—Vic Wilcox knows, having supervised a shutdown himself in his time. — David Lodge, Nice Work, 1990 Like Ozymandias, once king of kings but now two legs of a broken statue in Percy Shelley's desert, the great facade of Union Station in Washington, D.C., stands forlorn … — Stephen Jay Gould, Natural History, November 1986 she was forlorn when she found out the trip had been cancelled a forlorn wanderer far from home
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Recent Examples on the Web

 The posts are appearing amongst warnings about the coming storm, memes and, of course, pictures of dogs with forlorn looks on their faces. — Greg Norman | Fox News, Fox News, "As Hurricane Dorian approaches Florida, Instagram hashtag being used to promote products," 30 Aug. 2019 His forlorn face and unwieldy limbs clearly struck a chord with cat lovers. — Scottie Andrew, CNN, "The 26-pound shelter cat that enchanted the internet has found a home," 28 Aug. 2019 The frantic, forlorn quacking of a mother duck led Metro Transit police officers to what has become a common summer phenomenon — ducklings trapped in a storm drain. — Deanna Weniger, Twin Cities, "That’s quack-tastic! Metro Transit officers rescue 8 ducklings from storm drain," 6 July 2019 This refashioning began with the demise of the previous approach to economic development, a failed effort more than a decade ago to reinvigorate the forlorn downtown with a new shopping center. — Peter S. Goodman, New York Times, "Austerity Has Ravaged U.K. Communities. It Has Also Spurred Reinvention.," 22 June 2019 But then, noticing a forlorn, upside down, cherished BooBoo Bear on my new first-grader’s bed. — Pat Lenhoff, chicagotribune.com, "Column: Make time to relax during the waning days of summer before a new school year roars back to life," 24 July 2019 The marketplace is starting to look forlorn, with empty stall spaces and quiet afternoons. — Los Angeles Times, "Searching for enlightenment at beloved Baroo’s East Hollywood reincarnation," 20 July 2019 But the main competition was the Mets and they, even for the forlorn Cubs, were hard to take seriously. — Jeff Metcalfe, azcentral, "My summer of '69: From the moonwalk to the marathon walk," 19 July 2019 Chesto Means Business The stretch of East Boston along Chelsea Creek is hidden, weed-choked, forlorn. — Jon Chesto, BostonGlobe.com, "Hidden stretch of East Boston waterfront draws developer’s interest," 15 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'forlorn.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of forlorn

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

History and Etymology for forlorn

Middle English forloren, from Old English, past participle of forlēosan to lose, from for- + lēosan to lose — more at lose

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