desolate

¹des·o·late

adj \ˈde-sə-lət, ˈde-zə-\

Definition of DESOLATE

1

: devoid of inhabitants and visitors : deserted

2

: joyless, disconsolate, and sorrowful through or as if through separation from a loved one <a desolate widow>

3

a : showing the effects of abandonment and neglect : dilapidated <a desolate old house> b : barren, lifeless <a desolate landscape> c : devoid of warmth, comfort, or hope : gloomy <desolate memories>

— des·o·late·ly adverb

— des·o·late·ness noun

Examples of DESOLATE

1. <a desolate house abandoned many years ago>
2. <destitute and desolate since her husband walked out on her>

Origin of DESOLATE

Middle English desolat, from Latin desolatus, past participle of desolare to abandon, from de- + solus alone

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to DESOLATE

Synonyms: black, bleak, cheerless, chill, Cimmerian, cloudy, cold, comfortless, dark, darkening, depressing, depressive, gloomy, dire, disconsolate, dismal, drear, dreary, dreich [chiefly Scottish], elegiac (also elegiacal), forlorn, funereal, glum, godforsaken, gray (also grey), lonely, lonesome, lugubrious, miserable, morbid, morose, murky, plutonian, saturnine, sepulchral, solemn, somber (or sombre), sullen, sunless, tenebrific, tenebrous, wretched

Antonyms: bright, cheerful, cheering, cheery, comforting, cordial, festive, friendly, gay, heartwarming, sunshiny

Related Words: blue, dejected, depressed, despondent, disconsolate, down, droopy, hangdog, inconsolable, low, melancholic, melancholy, mirthless, sad, unhappy, woebegone, woeful; dim, discomfiting, discouraging, disheartening, dismaying, dispiriting, distressful, distressing, upsetting; desperate, hopeless, pessimistic; lamentable, mournful, plaintive, sorrowful; colorless, drab, dull; dour, grim, lowering (also louring), lowery (also loury), menacing, negative, oppressive, threatening

Near Antonyms: blithe, blithesome, buoyant, gay, jocund, jolly, joyful, joyous, merry, mirthful; encouraging, hopeful, optimistic; lighthearted, lightsome

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See Synonym Discussion at alone, dismal