1
as in deserts
land that is uninhabited or not fit for crops
looked out over the vast untamed desolation to the north
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in disrepairs
the state of being unattended to or not cared for
the desolation of the abandoned garden
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in devastations
the state or fact of being rendered nonexistent, physically unsound, or useless
the nuclear attack resulted in a scene of utter desolation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desolations
Noun
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Gene-therapy deserts leave people without options The exact number of patients who've received these kinds of treatments is hard to pin down because there's no central reporting system, says Sarah Kikkert, a spokesperson for the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy.—
Sydney Lupkin,
NPR,
24 Feb. 2026 -
Nonnative livestock — not just horses and cows but also donkeys, pigs and sheep — thrived in the vast grasslands, plains and deserts of the New World.—
Foreign Correspondent,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The forests are marked by sparse conifer stands, woodlands, herbaceous vegetation, and unvegetated barrens that dominate the transition to Arctic tundra.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The population surge caused widespread urchin barrens across the islands.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Dec. 2025
Noun
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In a study of 926 species across climatic zones, 47% are undergoing local extinctions, just like the lizards.—
Sarah Henry,
AZCentral.com,
22 Nov. 2025
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These extinctions were driven mostly by European agriculture and the introduction of non-native species that outcompeted Australian animals.—
Mindy Weisberger,
CNN Money,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The demolitions will be funded through the Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections' capital budget program.—
Madeline Bartos,
CBS News,
17 Feb. 2026
-
The measures follow years of accusations by Palestinians that actions by settlers and the military — campaigns of violence, harassment and demolitions — have pushed them from their land.—
Sam Metz,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Desolations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desolations. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
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