Loneliness is
an estrangement from oneself and from others, a feeling of alienation, even in the midst of others
(J. de Jong-Gierveld and J. Raadschelders)
an 'inner worm' that gnaws at the heart
(D. Perlman and L. A. Peplau)
an incredible intensity and pain that obliterates the memory of past relationships and spills over into the future
(S. Gordon)
a barrier that prevents one from uniting with the inner self
(C. Rogers)
an unpleasant, painful, anxious yearning for another person
(J. J. Ponzetti)
separation distress without an object
(R. Weiss)
the absence of an adequate positive relationship to persons, places or things
(Brage and Meredith)
defined as an enduring condition of emotional distress that arises when a person feels estranged from, misunderstood or rejected by others and/or lacks appropriate social partners for desired activities, particularly activities that provide a sense of social integration and opportunities for emotional intimacy
(K. Rook)
the affect that is activated when there is an uncontrollable discrepancy between desired and actual levels of intimacy and social interaction, with the desired levels higher than the actual
(P. Suedfeld)
(J. de Jong-Gierveld and J. Raadschelders)
an 'inner worm' that gnaws at the heart
(D. Perlman and L. A. Peplau)
an incredible intensity and pain that obliterates the memory of past relationships and spills over into the future
(S. Gordon)
a barrier that prevents one from uniting with the inner self
(C. Rogers)
an unpleasant, painful, anxious yearning for another person
(J. J. Ponzetti)
separation distress without an object
(R. Weiss)
the absence of an adequate positive relationship to persons, places or things
(Brage and Meredith)
defined as an enduring condition of emotional distress that arises when a person feels estranged from, misunderstood or rejected by others and/or lacks appropriate social partners for desired activities, particularly activities that provide a sense of social integration and opportunities for emotional intimacy
(K. Rook)
the affect that is activated when there is an uncontrollable discrepancy between desired and actual levels of intimacy and social interaction, with the desired levels higher than the actual
(P. Suedfeld)
a feeling that no one wants you and frustrating because you don't know why.
(Vicki)
wanting a friend without even knowing what a friend is.
(Andrew)
Being in a place or situation and yet being totally detached from it. And there is this huge yawning space inside you crying out to you.
(Jasmine)
loneliness is like a waka/boat that longs for the ocean, ... and yet is too
afraid, reluctant, ashamed, anxious perhaps to venture out.
(Ngati)
Being with him, but being alone.....
(anonymous)
Loneliness is an existential void that is god - shaped - with - a - human - face - and - touch
(Claude L)
Loneliness is the ultimate form of poverty
(Hans Koresh)
Loneliness can be a feeling of of shame for not being a good enough person to be something other than lonely, and being too ashamed to be capable of ending the feeling of loneliness.
(Daniel Gillard)
Quietness so overwhelming that you’ll do anything to end the silence, or to at least pretend it doesn’t exist. Anything to surround yourself, to comfort yourself, to be included in something or to feel unity with someone.
The yearning to be loved. Protected. Held. Soothed to sleep. The cutting absence of comfort.
(Heather)
Loneliness is knowing where you are physically, but emotionally, you feel very far away.
(SL)
To crave someone so intensely, and to desperately re-experience the love, companionship and compassion you once felt.
(Kelly)
Loneliness is a living death
(William)
loneliness is a sharp and cold claw that squeezes your heart with amazing strength; and when it's shattered into pieces, and every single part of your body weights like tons of lead, people see in you nothing but a sleepy face, not caring on going deeper into your state... they don't even want to know you're feeling like in hell...
(Peter)
Loneliness is the understanding of your true potential and living it while you alone can appreciate it. It is the longing for a connection deep beyond the surface while knowing the rarity of such a commodity. It is moving about in the hollow of society unable to superficially connect knowing such a sacrifice for companionship is the ultimate forfeiture of life.
(Isha)
A longing for all of life to be in harmony with its higher self.
(Joy)
Loneliness is kind of like war. You must get used to the constant fear, the constant pain, and never knowing which friend will be in your life from one minute to the next.
Oh, wait, you can't get used to that...
(Dave)
Loneliness is when one door has closed, but the "other one" has yet to open
(Tim Ash)
well Loneliness is something that can occur at any time of our lives regardless how many people are around you as a child as a young person middle age or old age. The feeling of being not taken in by your comunity misunderstood or taken advantage of, the fact is we mostly lonely most of our lives, but we pack our self with activities from morning to night, so a lot of people avoid ever feeling that sorry place or they make them self very important but then we risk to be lonely at the top. I think loneliness reminds us of the mystery of life we come here alone and we leave here alone. We don't know why, we are uncertain of that feeling is it a good feeling of inner peace or is it that feeling of not mattering ? In this materialistic society its easy to feel sad if that loneliness makes its self known . But think how many people feel this way every day so maybe we are not alone in feeling lonely. As long as it does not consume all of ones life its a short time in your life, Monks try to make there minds quiet. Is a quiet mind lonely ? So those are my thoughts on loneliness
(Viola Kullock)
People hate you when you're lonely because it makes them feel lonely too, and helpless against the loneliness. And they don't even have to know you're lonely, they just feel hate and fear, without a reason.
(Wes Darling)
Loneliness is the feeling that you're entire existence is just a waste of space.
Not needed, unimportant, isolated. You walk the Earth just to experience the pains of disconnection.
(Johnny Hem)
Disconnection absolute.
(Jan Clausen)
Loneliness is a void. One longs to be cared for and held in the face of pain, disappointment, stress, or fatigue; instead one encounters an emptiness that crushes and suffocates one's affection-starved being.
(J. Simoes)
Loneliness is a feeling of emptiness and abandonment.
(D. Stromgren)
Loneliness is knowing you belong nowhere.
(D. Laber)
Loneliness- Emotion caused when one is aware (conscious or subconscious) that ones loving emotions are not being fulfilled.
(bralph)
Got a definition you would like to share with everyone?
Send your definition to submissions@webofloneliness.com.
(Vicki)
wanting a friend without even knowing what a friend is.
(Andrew)
Being in a place or situation and yet being totally detached from it. And there is this huge yawning space inside you crying out to you.
(Jasmine)
loneliness is like a waka/boat that longs for the ocean, ... and yet is too
afraid, reluctant, ashamed, anxious perhaps to venture out.
(Ngati)
Being with him, but being alone.....
(anonymous)
Loneliness is an existential void that is god - shaped - with - a - human - face - and - touch
(Claude L)
Loneliness is the ultimate form of poverty
(Hans Koresh)
Loneliness can be a feeling of of shame for not being a good enough person to be something other than lonely, and being too ashamed to be capable of ending the feeling of loneliness.
(Daniel Gillard)
Quietness so overwhelming that you’ll do anything to end the silence, or to at least pretend it doesn’t exist. Anything to surround yourself, to comfort yourself, to be included in something or to feel unity with someone.
The yearning to be loved. Protected. Held. Soothed to sleep. The cutting absence of comfort.
(Heather)
Loneliness is knowing where you are physically, but emotionally, you feel very far away.
(SL)
To crave someone so intensely, and to desperately re-experience the love, companionship and compassion you once felt.
(Kelly)
Loneliness is a living death
(William)
loneliness is a sharp and cold claw that squeezes your heart with amazing strength; and when it's shattered into pieces, and every single part of your body weights like tons of lead, people see in you nothing but a sleepy face, not caring on going deeper into your state... they don't even want to know you're feeling like in hell...
(Peter)
Loneliness is the understanding of your true potential and living it while you alone can appreciate it. It is the longing for a connection deep beyond the surface while knowing the rarity of such a commodity. It is moving about in the hollow of society unable to superficially connect knowing such a sacrifice for companionship is the ultimate forfeiture of life.
(Isha)
A longing for all of life to be in harmony with its higher self.
(Joy)
Loneliness is kind of like war. You must get used to the constant fear, the constant pain, and never knowing which friend will be in your life from one minute to the next.
Oh, wait, you can't get used to that...
(Dave)
Loneliness is when one door has closed, but the "other one" has yet to open
(Tim Ash)
well Loneliness is something that can occur at any time of our lives regardless how many people are around you as a child as a young person middle age or old age. The feeling of being not taken in by your comunity misunderstood or taken advantage of, the fact is we mostly lonely most of our lives, but we pack our self with activities from morning to night, so a lot of people avoid ever feeling that sorry place or they make them self very important but then we risk to be lonely at the top. I think loneliness reminds us of the mystery of life we come here alone and we leave here alone. We don't know why, we are uncertain of that feeling is it a good feeling of inner peace or is it that feeling of not mattering ? In this materialistic society its easy to feel sad if that loneliness makes its self known . But think how many people feel this way every day so maybe we are not alone in feeling lonely. As long as it does not consume all of ones life its a short time in your life, Monks try to make there minds quiet. Is a quiet mind lonely ? So those are my thoughts on loneliness
(Viola Kullock)
People hate you when you're lonely because it makes them feel lonely too, and helpless against the loneliness. And they don't even have to know you're lonely, they just feel hate and fear, without a reason.
(Wes Darling)
Loneliness is the feeling that you're entire existence is just a waste of space.
Not needed, unimportant, isolated. You walk the Earth just to experience the pains of disconnection.
(Johnny Hem)
Disconnection absolute.
(Jan Clausen)
Loneliness is a void. One longs to be cared for and held in the face of pain, disappointment, stress, or fatigue; instead one encounters an emptiness that crushes and suffocates one's affection-starved being.
(J. Simoes)
Loneliness is a feeling of emptiness and abandonment.
(D. Stromgren)
Loneliness is knowing you belong nowhere.
(D. Laber)
Loneliness- Emotion caused when one is aware (conscious or subconscious) that ones loving emotions are not being fulfilled.
(bralph)
Got a definition you would like to share with everyone?
Send your definition to submissions@webofloneliness.com.