lone wolf

noun

: a person who prefers to work, act, or live alone

lone-wolf

ˈlōn-ˌwu̇lf 

adjective

Synonyms

• bohemian
• boho
• counterculturist
• deviant
• enfant terrible
• free spirit
• heretic
• iconoclast
• individualist
• lone ranger
• loner
• maverick
• nonconformer
• nonconformist

Examples of lone wolf in a Sentence

He had the reputation of being a lone wolf in high school.

a lone wolf in the art world, he has his own style and paints only to please himself

Recent Examples on the Web

All this leads to the persistence of small pockets of jihadist sympathizers in the West, whether lone wolves or small clusters, who consume (and produce) ISIS propaganda and at times activate themselves to carry out attacks. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 3 Jan. 2025

News: The New Year's Day truck attack that killed 14 people and wounded dozens of others appears to have been the act of a lone wolf and unrelated to a truck blast in Las Vegas, authorities said Thursday. —Leah Olajide, Detroit Free Press, 3 Jan. 2025

Um, kind of the lone, lone wolf out there doing my thing. —Outside Online, 11 Dec. 2024

Currently, there are nine packs living in the northern areas of the Golden State, along with several lone wolves. —Matt Robison, Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

lone wolf

noun

: a person who prefers to act, live, or work alone : loner