as in barren
land that is uninhabited or not fit for crops
we were lost in the desert for days without food
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in discipline
usually deserts plural
suffering, loss, or hardship imposed in response to a crime or offense
the robbers got their just deserts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to abandon
to leave (a cause or party) often in order to take up another
the volunteer became disillusioned with his candidate and deserted to a political rival
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to leave
to cause to remain behind
deserted the kids at the food court for some independent shopping
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in arid
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of desert
David Faris, Newsweek, 2 Feb. 2025
The temporary ban applies to areas within the South Coast Air Basin, which includes Orange County and non-desert portions of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, according to a news release from the agency.
—Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2022
Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025
Those characters, each of them survivors of different deserts, are played with wrenching feeling by remarkable discovery Sebiye Behtiyar and Fred Hechinger, who continues to impress.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2025
Nora Gamez Torres, Miami Herald, 13 Aug. 2025
In California, the warning is in effect for southeastern counties, with temperatures forecast to reach 111 F in Indian Wells Valley; and 115 F in Coachella Valley and San Diego County deserts.
—Matthew Robinson, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for desert
Noun
The South Coast Air Basin includes Orange County and non-desert portions of Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 2 Feb. 2025
The temporary ban applies to areas within the South Coast Air Basin, which includes Orange County and non-desert portions of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, according to a news release from the agency.
—Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2022
Verb
The series transitions from desert battles to a metropolitan spy thriller – while introducing characters like Landry and Hopper, who are featured throughout Carr's books (and likely future TV series).
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025
Those characters, each of them survivors of different deserts, are played with wrenching feeling by remarkable discovery Sebiye Behtiyar and Fred Hechinger, who continues to impress.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Several Cuban doctors who deserted the mission sued PAHO, claiming the organization benefited from a labor-trafficking scheme in which the Cuban government pocketed about 85 percent of the salary payments made by Brazil.
—Nora Gamez Torres, Miami Herald, 13 Aug. 2025
In California, the warning is in effect for southeastern counties, with temperatures forecast to reach 111 F in Indian Wells Valley; and 115 F in Coachella Valley and San Diego County deserts.
—Matthew Robinson, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for desert
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desert
Verb
-
The city and its neighborhoods seemed abandoned, except for the occasional roving pack of rescue workers or out-of-town law enforcement.—
Mandi Wright,
Freep.com,
31 Aug. 2025
-
And many of Georgia's battery manufacturing prospects have already abandoned ship earlier this year.—
Jillian Magtoto,
USA Today,
31 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
In The History of Sound, Mescal plays Lionel Worthing, a talented singer from rural Kentucky who leaves his family farm to attend the Boston Music Conservatory.—
Escher Walcott,
People.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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Those who require additional time to evacuate, and those with pets and livestock should leave now.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
For millennia, the Nile's predictable annual floods deposited nutrient-rich silt on its banks, enabling agriculture to flourish in an arid landscape and giving rise to one of history's most enduring civilizations.—
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry,
Space.com,
26 Aug. 2025
-
Their trademark triangular signs are ubiquitous in arid regions of the United States, like the Great Basin.—
River Selby
August 25,
Literary Hub,
25 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Tennessee currently has around 60,000 active personalized plates and has rejected nearly 1,000 since the program began in 1998.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
1 Sep. 2025
-
The Athletic reported on August 20 that Brentford had turned down a Newcastle bid worth £35million plus a potential £5m more in difficult-to-achieve add-ons, after rejecting their £25m offer in July.—
Leon Imber,
New York Times,
1 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
These seemingly innocuous actions can kindle dry grass, potentially triggering a wildfire.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Since 1994, the region has experienced drier-than-normal conditions.—
John Leos,
AZCentral.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Details of Russia’s offer on Donetsk are not public, but Russia is reportedly offering to freeze the frontline positions at Zhaporzhzhia and Kherson, and withdraw from territory in Sumy, Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions, in exchange for Ukraine handing over the rest of the Donbas.—
Laura Kelly,
The Hill,
28 Aug. 2025
-
After reading West’s Forbes article, the husband and wife withdrew from their retirement fund, used a portion of their savings, and borrowed money from their adult son to invest $150,000 in a home West was flipping in August 2010.—
Cheyenne Roundtree,
Rolling Stone,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
While urban areas like Los Angeles are under mandatory drought restrictions to reduce strain on state reservoirs, many rural residents reliant on groundwater wells are waterless.—
Tribune Content Agency,
oregonlive,
27 Nov. 2022
-
Other eco-friendly measures include a solid waste incinerator to turn waste into non-toxic ash and a waterless urinal to reduce unnecessary usage.—
Camille Fine,
USA TODAY,
22 Aug. 2022
Adjective
-
Fill the saucer with water for the birds, or add gravel along with a little water to create a way station for thirsty butterflies.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
22 Aug. 2025
-
The camera, placed behind the food and water bowls, showed her thirsty cat hydrating herself.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Desert.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desert. Accessed 4 Sep. 2025.
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