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
Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 27 Mar. 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
Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 11 July 2025
The 28-year-old guard on Wednesday reached an agreement on a two-year max extension estimated at $145 million, a move designed to keep Booker in the desert through the 2029-30 season.
—Doug Haller, New York Times, 10 July 2025
Anthony Demarco, Forbes.com, 22 June 2025
Already, non-profit rural and community hospitals have been forced to make hard decisions about what services to cut in order to continue to subsidize uncompensated care; others are facing the prospect of closing their doors and creating health care deserts in their communities.
—Joe Theine, Denver Post, 15 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for desert
Noun
Cocktail grapefruit grows wherever conventional grapefruit grows, although fruit quality is best, as with grapefruit generally, in desert or semi-desert conditions.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 27 Mar. 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
This is like taking a Conestoga wagon from the prairie to the desert.
—Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 11 July 2025
The 28-year-old guard on Wednesday reached an agreement on a two-year max extension estimated at $145 million, a move designed to keep Booker in the desert through the 2029-30 season.
—Doug Haller, New York Times, 10 July 2025
Adjective
The jewel most likely belonged to Nelson’s estranged wife Frances, Viscountess Nelson (1758-1831) who Nelson deserted for Emma Hamilton.
—Anthony Demarco, Forbes.com, 22 June 2025
Already, non-profit rural and community hospitals have been forced to make hard decisions about what services to cut in order to continue to subsidize uncompensated care; others are facing the prospect of closing their doors and creating health care deserts in their communities.
—Joe Theine, Denver Post, 15 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for desert
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desert
Verb
-
That doesn't mean abandoning your message, just finding the right entry point for your audience in that moment.—
Rachel Weissman,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
-
Nothing in the proposal Trump announced on Monday is likely to force Putin to abandon that objective.—
Simon Shuster,
Time,
15 July 2025
Verb
-
Social media videos showed dramatic scenes of floodwater pouring into Manhattan subway stations and buses left stranded by rising water in towns such as Scotch Plains, New Jersey.—
Barney Henderson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 July 2025
-
While Drake has continued with subtle jabs in his music, Pusha appears content with leaving their rivalry in the past.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
15 July 2025
Adjective
-
For decades, governments have allowed companies to spritz clouds with chemicals like silver iodide to encourage extra snow or rain onto arid fields below, usually at the request of farmers and ranchers.—
Alex Harris,
Miami Herald,
16 July 2025
-
Flickering habitability The landscape turned arid, judging by Earth’s standards, roughly 3.5 billion years ago.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
13 July 2025
Verb
-
If anyone else tries such commands, the AGI and ASI reject them summarily.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
-
New York’s 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Maxwell’s appeal effort last year, finding that the deal drawn up in 2007 and approved the following year only protected Epstein and his coconspirators in South Florida.—
Molly Crane-Newman,
New York Daily News,
15 July 2025
Adjective
-
Her candidness, dry humor and emotional honesty resonated with thousands — some fellow transplant recipients, others simply inspired by her resilience.—
Jordan Greene,
People.com,
14 July 2025
-
This style from Outdoor Ventures is water- and wind-proof to keep you dry and warm during rainy days.—
Rylee Johnston,
Travel + Leisure,
15 July 2025
Verb
-
Topline Half of the roughly 4,000 National Guard troops deployed to Los Angeles last month amid immigration raid protests will be withdrawn, the Trump administration announced Tuesday, calling off the soldiers weeks after California Gov. Gavin Newsom unsuccessfully tried to block their deployment.—
Antonio Pequeño IV,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
-
Stanley said crews were initially able to fight the fire near a chlorine leak at a water treatment facility, but eventually had to withdraw due to safety concerns for pilots who could breathe toxic fumes.—
Rey Covarrubias Jr,
AZCentral.com,
15 July 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
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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
-
Even with all the hybrid power under the hood, the twin turbo V8 engine is still a thirsty beast; average fuel economy is estimated at about 20 MPG.—
Scotty Reiss,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
-
Customers have also brought back bar traditions like thirsty Thursdays, when residents celebrate the beginning of the weekend with a bar crawl.—
Addison Wright,
Chicago Tribune,
20 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Desert.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desert. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.
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