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
Katia Riddle, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025
That includes Princess Hind (Aiysha Hart), who has been in hiding deep in the desert with her father King Numan (Ghassan Massoud).
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 2 Oct. 2025
Mark Phelan, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2025
The Elevated Velocity has modes for interior comfort and different kinds of travel, from handsfree relaxation to desert racing.
—Mark Phelan, Freep.com, 14 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
More than half the counties in Mississippi are considered maternity care deserts, where prenatal care is difficult or impossible to find.
—Katia Riddle, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025
That includes Princess Hind (Aiysha Hart), who has been in hiding deep in the desert with her father King Numan (Ghassan Massoud).
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
The Elevated Velocity has modes for interior comfort and different kinds of travel, from hands-free relaxation to desert racing.
—Mark Phelan, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2025
The Elevated Velocity has modes for interior comfort and different kinds of travel, from handsfree relaxation to desert racing.
—Mark Phelan, Freep.com, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for desert
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desert
Verb
-
The floater that has been such a huge part of his game abandoned him.—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Twenty years prior to the present day of the movie, Ray Stoker (Day-Lewis) abandoned his family to live off the grid in a hut in the woods after a scarring incident during the conflict, which pitted Catholics against Protestants within Northern Ireland, and union loyalists against republicans.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In analyzing dozens of hours of audio and video footage of public and private speaking events for McMahon’s appointees, as well as their writings, ProPublica found that a recurring theme is the desire to enable more families to leave public schools.—
Megan O’Matz,
ProPublica,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Varying injuries suffered by Richard Fitts, Hunter Dobbins, Kutter Crawford and Tanner Houck leave several starters in flux entering the offseason, while rookies Connelly Early and Payton Tolle pitched well at the end of the season.—
Jen McCaffrey,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Most of the global production of castor seed is concentrated in India, where the crop thrives in semi-arid regions with minimal water, fertilizer, or pesticide inputs.—
Dianne Plummer,
Forbes.com,
20 Sep. 2025
-
While there is an overall drying trend, there is normal variability in arid environments.—
Hayleigh Evans,
AZCentral.com,
20 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The letter also called for the return of mandatory standardized testing in university admissions and for universities to report the anonymous scores and grades of accepted and rejected students.—
Helen Rummel,
AZCentral.com,
2 Oct. 2025
-
In a June ruling, a three-judge Kansas Court of Appeals panel rejected Kobach’s arguments in no uncertain terms.—
Matthew Kelly,
Kansas City Star,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
This innovative dry shampoo isn’t designed to just absorb oil and create that all-too-familiar gritty feeling on your strands.—
Jessie Quinn,
StyleCaster,
7 Oct. 2025
-
The Columbia Men's Newton Ridge Plus II Waterproof Omni-heat Boots are currently 25 percent off and will keep feet dry and warm during hikes year-round.—
Anne Taylor,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Ryan Yates, who had been a destructive figure in midfield, was subsequently withdrawn amid three attacking changes, which saw Callum Hudson-Odoi, Omari Hutchinson and Igor Jesus introduced, giving Forest more threat, but also allowing Newcastle more openings.—
Paul Taylor,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
-
After President Joe Biden withdrew his reelection campaign yesterday, the endorsements have been rolling in for Vice President Kamala Harris to be selected as the Democratic nominee for the upcoming election.—
Anna Tingley,
Variety,
6 Oct. 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
-
Mammoth Music and Arts Festival Arrive to Mammoth Music and Arts Festival hungry, thirsty and ready to rock.—
Caroline Ritzie,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
1 Oct. 2025
-
The researchers propose they were intended to guide thirsty hunter-gatherers to water sources that were often concealed behind boulders and sandstone formations and to mark access rights.—
Martin J. Kernan,
Scientific American,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Desert.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desert. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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