Definitions

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.

The group consisted of seven men and two women, all of whom looked forlorn.

From BBC • May 20, 2026

Only a certified Grinch would want to see Auggie left as anxious and forlorn at the end of the show as he is at his lowest moments.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 31, 2025

Nothing but dirt and dry, brown chaparral rolled beneath skis and snowboards dangling from a chairlift at Big Bear Mountain Resort on Friday, as forlorn adventure seekers joked they should rename the place “Big Bare.”

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 22, 2025

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

We hurry away from the soldier, passing all the forlorn people handcuffed by the curb, and join the mob heading toward the school, all of us breathing a communal sigh of relief.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

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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