1
as in sadness
a state or spell of low spirits
his desolation after his twin brother died was incurable
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in disrepair
the state of being unattended to or not cared for
the desolation of the abandoned garden
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in devastation
the state or fact of being rendered nonexistent, physically unsound, or useless
the nuclear attack resulted in a scene of utter desolation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of desolation
How could the seeming desolation of a Snowball Earth line up with this burst of biological innovation?
—
Veronique Greenwood, WIRED, 11 Aug. 2024
Amid the desolation of a forest in late fall, three film students attempt to make a documentary about a witch known only by local legend.
—Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week Us, theweek, 9 Aug. 2024
Reverend Dwight reported that the houses along the Boston Road were
scenes of desolation.
—Ian Frazier, The New Yorker, 15 July 2024
Amid all this appearance of desolation, nothing struck my own eye more forcibly than the sight of this great road; the passage from New-York to Boston.
—Ian Frazier, The New Yorker, 15 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for desolation 
Veronique Greenwood, WIRED, 11 Aug. 2024
Amid the desolation of a forest in late fall, three film students attempt to make a documentary about a witch known only by local legend.
—Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week Us, theweek, 9 Aug. 2024
Reverend Dwight reported that the houses along the Boston Road were
scenes of desolation.
—Ian Frazier, The New Yorker, 15 July 2024
Amid all this appearance of desolation, nothing struck my own eye more forcibly than the sight of this great road; the passage from New-York to Boston.
—Ian Frazier, The New Yorker, 15 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for desolation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desolation
Noun
-
Twelve months ago, the world championship returned to the desert for the first time after a 41-year absence, albeit in completely different surroundings.Dan Cancian, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024
-
Meanwhile Travis Scott, whose recent Circus Maximus Tour broke records with more tickets sold globally than any rap tour in history, finally returns to the desert in the bottom headliner spot, taking the main stage also on both Saturdays.EW.com, EW.com, 20 Nov. 2024
Noun
-
Over the years, the complex fell into disrepair until it was declared a nuisance in 2007.Paloma Esquivel, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2024
-
After a long legal battle between the government and a development corporation owned by a powerful Manila family, the Mile Long property fell into disrepair.Maryam Jillani, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2024
Noun
-
To say more about the plot would spoil the film too much, but Ryder is really a chameleon, flickering between quiet melancholy, genuine affection, and darker, more selfish concerns, and the rotoscoping art style accentuates the expressiveness of her face.Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2024
-
At 78, Ferry reigns as the elder statesman of rock-star romantics, the king of elegant melancholy.Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 21 Oct. 2024
Noun
-
But amid the stories of destruction and despair, the film also promises a vision of a better world, of a future where Israelis and Palestinians, like the directors of this documentary, can work together towards justice and freedom.Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Nov. 2024
-
Severe weather More severe weather is expected in the Southern Plains today as residents in Oklahoma survey the destruction from tornado-spawning storms that injured at least 11 people and leveled homes over the weekend.Andrew Torgan, CNN, 4 Nov. 2024
Noun
-
The Fed’s duties expanded after the Great Depression, another crisis that was triggered by a stock market crash and made worse by an agricultural depression brought on by unsustainable farming practices, droughts and the Dust Bowl.Reco McCambry, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
-
Postpartum depression symptoms can include persistent feelings of sadness, lack of interest in activities, eating and sleep disturbances and excessive irritability or crying.Dr. Esther Zusstone, ABC News, 20 Nov. 2024
Noun
-
Forecasters said the storm could cause dangerous surf and riptides across the whole Gulf region in the coming days, after causing havoc in Cuba where millions are still without power.Patrick Smith, NBC News, 8 Nov. 2024
-
The renowned killer known as the Baba Yaga returned to wreak more violent havoc for three more movies: 2017's John Wick: Chapter 2, 2019's John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum, and 2023's John Wick: Chapter 4.Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 4 Nov. 2024
Noun
-
The Browns have suffered losses to the Giants and Raiders on a resume that includes a seemingly inexplicable victory over Baltimore.Jack Magruder, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
-
An anonymous donor emailed O’Connell the same day the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel published its Nov. 6 story about the youth shelter’s sudden loss in federal funding.Gina Lee Castro, Journal Sentinel, 20 Nov. 2024
Noun
-
The possible extinction of the Key deer could also affect other species in the Florida Keys.Justin Klawans, The Week US, theweek, 13 Nov. 2024
-
Meanwhile, scores of bee species are under threat across the U.S., with one in four native species now at risk of extinction, according to the Center for Biological Diversity.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Articles Related to desolation
Thesaurus Entries Near desolation
Cite this Entry
“Desolation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desolation. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share