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
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Recent Examples of desert
Marina Johnson, IndyStar, 20 Feb. 2026
Boys will be boys Speaking of water, there was one fan rationing it like he was lost in the desert.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2026
But Putin was not going to launch a new war against Turkey’s rebel allies just to save a petty dictator whose own soldiers were deserting.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for desert
Noun
The season emulates the 40 days Jesus spent fasting and avoiding the temptations of evil in the desert, as mentioned in the Bible.
—Marina Johnson, IndyStar, 20 Feb. 2026
Boys will be boys Speaking of water, there was one fan rationing it like he was lost in the desert.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
The vivid hues of wildflowers like mariposa lilies, desert five-spot, and lilac sunbonnets transform Death Valley starting in mid-February, although blooms can last well into the summer months in the park’s higher, cooler elevations.
—Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2026
But Putin was not going to launch a new war against Turkey’s rebel allies just to save a petty dictator whose own soldiers were deserting.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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
See All Example Sentences for desert
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desert
Verb
-
All three figures were once associated with the regime’s internal movement for incremental reform; all three long ago abandoned that stance to advocate the wholesale transformation of the system instead.—
Arash Azizi,
The Atlantic,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Despite the relatively recent creation of the Government Oversight Committee, the legislature has largely abandoned its oversight role.—
Mark Pazniokas,
Hartford Courant,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
With the high court passing on the city’s request, that leaves in place a ruling that the city violated state law and needs to update its housing plan and zone for at least 13,368 new homes this decade, including affordable options.—
Claire Wang,
Oc Register,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Air vibrates the tissues in the voice box while an area just above contracts, leaving a small opening for the whistle to escape.—
Adithi Ramakrishnan,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Nonetheless, the cave environment and its hyper-arid conditions contributed to the mummification of the cheetahs, Al Boug said.—
Taylor Nicioli,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Scarlet wakes up in the Otherworld, an endless, arid landscape with an ocean for sky where a dragon roams.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The big man drew a foul inside, sank a baby hook shot, rejected a shot by Suns counterpart Mark Williams and fed a pass to Sam Hauser for a layup.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
-
These improvements came after Americans rejected soft-on-crime and defund-the-police policies, which resulted in a spike in crime over the previous 4 years.—
Gabe Evans,
Denver Post,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
We’re often barraged with a series of facts, dates and notable events, and the results can be dry as dust.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Feb. 2026
-
To help the shrub recover, maintain consistent soil moisture for the rest of the winter by watering during dry periods.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
By April, Kabila’s new government was persuaded by the IMF and the World Bank to withdraw from the contract with Gertler after only eight months.—
Nicolas Niarchos,
Vanity Fair,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Lupel continued working to get Dotson’s rape conviction overturned until withdrawing as his attorney in 1986.—
Bob Goldsborough,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Feb. 2026
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
-
But in the shadows, amid growing unease at the blood-thirsty actions of the realm’s merciless Mad King, dissenters from his inner circle anxiously advance a treasonous plot.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Check For Underwatering A peace lily with drooping or wilting leaves is probably a thirsty plant.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Desert.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desert. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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