noun

loneliness

loneliness, solitude, isolation

Loneliness can be a serious problem for older people.

Loneliness can be a serious problem for older people.

((uncountable noun)) the state of being lonely. Loneliness is a common feeling.

Synonyms: solitude, isolation; Antonyms: companionship, togetherness

From the adjective 'lonely' plus the suffix '-ness', which forms nouns indicating a state or condition.

The '-ness' suffix turns the feeling ('lonely') into a state or condition ('loneliness'), just like 'happy' becomes 'happiness'.

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