desolation

noun

ˌde-sə-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce desolation (audio)
Definition of desolationnext
1
as in sadness
a state or spell of low spirits his desolation after his twin brother died was incurable

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2
as in desert
land that is uninhabited or not fit for crops looked out over the vast untamed desolation to the north

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3
as in disrepair
the state of being unattended to or not cared for the desolation of the abandoned garden

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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

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Example 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 Mad Max desolation and Hollywood glam meet in the Nevada desert every September during Burning Man — and even the industry’s most famous don’t pass up the annual opportunity to torch the giant wicker man. — Alyssa Modos, PEOPLE, 9 July 2026 Some had waited for decades, but the priest learned, more or less, how to accompany people through years of confinement and isolation without losing himself in their desolation. — Pamela Colloff, ProPublica, 30 June 2026 There’s only desolation and nothingness. — Literary Hub, 26 June 2026 Every street presents a tableaux of desolation. — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 22 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for desolation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desolation
  1. sadness
  2. desert
  3. disrepair
  4. devastation
  5. melancholy
  6. destruction
  7. depression
  8. havoc
Noun
  • For example, expressing appreciation for past help or thanking the doctor for their time was more helpful than emphasizing sadness or frustration.
    — Paul Hsieh, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2026
  • But our frustrations and inconvenience pale in comparison to the sadness of those who knew the deceased or to the trauma the drivers involved experienced.
    — Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of sadness
Noun
  • Weekend at the Ranch Out in the desert, Dialed Health sponsored an exclusive festival weekend afterparty, running from sunrise into the afternoon.
    — Ethan M. Stone, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The rains came from a typical monsoon storm; these storms rake across the Grand Canyon and the desert Southwest between June and September every year.
    — Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of desert
Noun
  • But photographs accompanying the current listing show an interior still in various states of disrepair, including peeling paint, exposed framing and lath.
    — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Urgent repair projects will be delayed, construction costs will multiply, and the visitor experience will inevitably decline as facilities fall into disrepair, risking the safety of millions of tourists and residents alike.
    — Lulu Vilas, Sun Sentinel, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of disrepair
Noun
  • For France, long accustomed to wildfires along arid stretches of the Atlantic and Mediterranean, the devastation in Le Porge has yielded rare consensus that its fire safety system is not up to fighting mega-fires brought on by climate change.
    — Michael Finnegan, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Hunter said it’s been sad to see photos of the devastation wrought by the fire.
    — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of devastation
Noun
  • Beneath all the sensuality and beauty, there’s also a lingering melancholy that feels very familiar to me.
    — Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 16 June 2026
  • Don Hertzfeldt occasionally comes to mind for a similarly pervasive mood of questioning, philosophical melancholy.
    — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 12 June 2026
Definition of melancholy
Noun
  • The deadly wall of water that descended from the mountains on the border between Nepal and Tibet caused destruction at least 62 miles downriver from the border in Nepal, an ABC News analysis of verified video and satellite images shows.
    — Jon Haworth, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Trump has also promoted the destruction of Iran's nuclear facilities and navy, and the reduction in missile and drone capabilities, as measures of success.
    — Bart Jansen, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of destruction
Noun
  • Hollows haven’t been found elsewhere on planets in our solar system, and with no wind or water to form the thousands of puzzling depressions, scientists want to know what forces sculpted them.
    — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Symptoms include fever, depression, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration.
    — Amaia Gavica, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of depression
Noun
  • Although not a direct hit, Lala dumped nearly 3 feet of rain on the Big Island, bringing widespread havoc.
    — Doyle Rice, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
  • In the movie, a group of teens accidentally release a bunch of monsters from Stine’s book collection, creating complete havoc and plenty of great family-friendly frights.
    — Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of havoc

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desolation
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Cite this Entry

“Desolation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desolation. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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