wasteland

noun

waste·​land ˈwāst-ˌland 

also -lənd

1

: barren or uncultivated land

a desert wasteland

2

: an ugly often devastated or barely inhabitable place or area

3

: something (such as a way of life) that is spiritually and emotionally arid and unsatisfying

Synonyms of wasteland

• desert
• barren

Examples of wasteland in a Sentence

The outskirts of the city became a grim industrial wasteland.

That part of the country is a cultural wasteland.

the vast wasteland of television

Recent Examples on the Web

New York City is currently a bit of a wasteland for big box stores like Dick’s Sporting Goods or even Walmart that often sell that merchandise. —Scott Soshnick, Sportico.com, 28 May 2026

Then came the internet, which would make the library a wasteland. —Ann Kirschner, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026

Ella Purnell returns to the lead drama actress race for her work as Lucy MacLean, the optimistic vault dweller navigating the brutal wasteland. —Clayton Davis, Variety, 19 May 2026

That line, uttered by Duncan in the last scene of this week’s episode, is as succinct a thesis statement as The Audacity has offered about the ethical wasteland of Silicon Valley. —Scott Tobias, Vulture, 10 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for wasteland

• ampersand
• beforehand
• behindhand
• bottomland
• contraband
• countermand
• dixieland
• fairyland
• fatherland
• firebrand
• hinterland
• motherland

Kids Definition

wasteland

noun

waste·​land ˈwāst-ˌland 

1

: land that is not cultivated or not fit for the cultivation of crops

2

: an ugly often ruined place or area