forlorn

[fawr-lawrn] / fɔrˈlɔrn /

ADJECTIVE

hopeless, inconsolable

Synonyms

STRONGEST

depressed deserted desolate desperate despondent destitute helpless lonely miserable oppressed pathetic pitiful

WEAK

abandoned alone bereft blue cheerless comfortless cynical defenseless despairing destroyed disconsolate down and out dragging forgotten forsaken friendless fruitless futile godforsaken homeless in the dumps lonesome lost pessimistic pitiable solitary tragic unhappy vain weighed down woebegone wretched

Antonyms

STRONGEST

cheerful elated happy hopeful populated prosperous rich satisfied secure wealthy worthwhile

WEAK

comforted consolable joyful pleased

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Ian Buruma uses this forlorn exhortation as the title of his book, “Stay Alive: Berlin, 1939-1945.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

Auger-Aliassime reeled off five successive games against an increasingly forlorn Bublik, taking his first match point with a thumping cross-court forehand.

From Barron's • Nov. 1, 2025

Eyes forlorn, the 72-year-old cut the figure of someone who had seen years of suffering and hardship.

From BBC • Sep. 10, 2025

That Love identified no sadness in the songs only makes it easier to understand why Wilson the lonely young pop star was writing tunes as openly forlorn as “In My Room.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2025

Huge chunks of brown rubble lay forlorn across the loose rocky ground.

From "Darius the Great Is Not Okay" by Adib Khorram

Vocabulary lists containing forlorn

Holes

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The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone

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The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 7

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