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
Ari Daniel, NPR, 18 June 2025
She’s made multiple 3s in three consecutive outings and had her best performance of 2025 in a road revenge game out in the desert on June 7.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 17 June 2025
Gregg Evans, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2025
Burrowing owls are also desert dwellers and have adapted by digging burrows underground for nesting and shelter.
—Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 May 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
Beyond the moth Biologist Pauline Fleischmann at the University of Oldenburg studies navigation in desert ants in Greece and says she's fascinated by the study.
—Ari Daniel, NPR, 18 June 2025
She’s made multiple 3s in three consecutive outings and had her best performance of 2025 in a road revenge game out in the desert on June 7.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 17 June 2025
Adjective
As their consistency deserted them at the crucial moment, Burnley’s has continued.
—Gregg Evans, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2025
Burrowing owls are also desert dwellers and have adapted by digging burrows underground for nesting and shelter.
—Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for desert
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desert
Verb
-
To add insult to injury, Pfizer abandoned its plan just a few years after the Kelo decision, just as its tax breaks were about to expire and after about $80 million of taxpayer money was spent, and the land remains a vacant lot all these years later.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
22 June 2025
-
While families may choose various savings tools, abandoning Florida’s institutions over political disagreements undermines the progress made by thousands of dedicated students, faculty and staff.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
21 June 2025
Verb
-
Advertisement That confluence of tricky politics has left a lot of D.C.’s political class in a bind.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
23 June 2025
-
Nevertheless, the move will leave Ipswich Town as the only women’s team in WSL2 playing outside their county.—
Asif Burhan,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
Adjective
-
Thus, between cold seas and towering mountains, the most arid climate on the planet was woven.—
Discover Magazine,
Discover Magazine,
27 June 2025
-
In Australia’s arid center, those blotches represent a new inland sea, born from a deluge that has traveled hundreds of miles through the veins of a giant, parched continent.—
Angus Watson,
CNN Money,
25 June 2025
Verb
-
In response, Congress passed legislation seeking to limit a president's ability to wage war against Iran, which was again quickly rejected by Trump.—
Mariam Khan,
ABC News,
23 June 2025
-
This can manifest into an AI tool that ends up rejecting qualified job candidates because it was trained on biased data.—
Janice Gassam Asare,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
Adjective
-
Along the way, hikers will pass by a few creeks — some dry, others with water — and cross over wooden bridges.—
Maura Fox,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 June 2025
-
That curl makes the nib of a fountain pen dry and scratchy.—
Benjamin Hale
June 23,
Literary Hub,
23 June 2025
Verb
-
Hall, on the other hand, finished just six strokes behind the champion, despite nearly withdrawing 48 hours earlier.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 June 2025
-
The head of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog has urged Tehran to allow the agency to inspect the sites, but Iran is yet to agree, and has threatened to withdraw cooperation with the watchdog.—
Claire Cameron,
semafor.com,
24 June 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
-
The crisp, sparkling wines come ice cold, and can be sipped either in the privacy of your daybed or cabana, or at the Legacy Pool’s intimate 10-seat bar—so, in other words, come thirsty!—
Alex Schechter,
Travel + Leisure,
27 June 2025
-
Pitt hilariously asked at one point F1 is in theaters now Brad Pitt and Javier Bardem just got a dose of how thirsty some fans are for them!—
Jen Juneau,
People.com,
27 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Desert.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desert. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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