as in discipline
suffering, loss, or hardship imposed in response to a crime or offense
the robbers got their just deserts
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in rejects
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 leaves
to cause to remain behind
deserted the kids at the food court for some independent shopping
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deserts
Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
Some towers in remote deserts or mountainous regions send data through satellites, and anyone within the satellite’s coverage area can potentially intercept those signals.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2025
Across the country, travelers can find an enticing mix of forests, mountains, deserts, and more.
—Kristine Hansen, Travel + Leisure, 14 Oct. 2025
In contrast, most top urban mortgage deserts are historically disinvested, predominantly Black cities such as Baltimore, Memphis, and Philadelphia.
—Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 8 Oct. 2025
The two mayoral candidates’ urgency to address food and medicine deserts in Seattle comes on the heels of the closure of the Fred Meyer grocery store in the Lake City neighborhood later this month.
—Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 4 Oct. 2025
After one thousand years of isolation, Iblis is given temporary freedom when Ka-young (Bae Suzy), a small town mechanic who doesn’t experience empathy, literally stumbles upon his lamp during a vacation in the deserts of Dubai.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 3 Oct. 2025
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
Lawns are biological deserts where few species can live, but those that can survive there often reach high numbers.
—Steven Sullivan, The Conversation, 29 Sep. 2025
Matthew Robinson, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Aug. 2025
Noun
In a wind advisory for the Lake Mead National Recreation Area and the northwest deserts, the NWS said south winds of 20 to 30 miles per hour, with gusts of up to 45 mph, were expected.
—Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
Some towers in remote deserts or mountainous regions send data through satellites, and anyone within the satellite’s coverage area can potentially intercept those signals.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2025
Across the country, travelers can find an enticing mix of forests, mountains, deserts, and more.
—Kristine Hansen, Travel + Leisure, 14 Oct. 2025
In contrast, most top urban mortgage deserts are historically disinvested, predominantly Black cities such as Baltimore, Memphis, and Philadelphia.
—Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 8 Oct. 2025
The two mayoral candidates’ urgency to address food and medicine deserts in Seattle comes on the heels of the closure of the Fred Meyer grocery store in the Lake City neighborhood later this month.
—Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 4 Oct. 2025
After one thousand years of isolation, Iblis is given temporary freedom when Ka-young (Bae Suzy), a small town mechanic who doesn’t experience empathy, literally stumbles upon his lamp during a vacation in the deserts of Dubai.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 3 Oct. 2025
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
Lawns are biological deserts where few species can live, but those that can survive there often reach high numbers.
—Steven Sullivan, The Conversation, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
In California, the warning is in effect for southeastern counties, with temperatures forecast to reach 111 F in Indian Wells Valley; and 115 F in Coachella Valley and San Diego County deserts.
—Matthew Robinson, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deserts
Noun
-
The network also told the WGAE that the email responses are not the basis for discipline, discharge or layoffs.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
14 Oct. 2025
-
What started as the follow-up to D’Angelo’s 1995 platinum debut, Brown Sugar (written and recorded entirely by D’Angelo in his mother’s house in Richmond, Virginia), became five years of study at Soul University, complete with classes, pranks, gossip and equal amounts of discipline and laziness.—
Touré,
Rolling Stone,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The business software maker on Wednesday unveiled an optimistic, multiyear financial roadmap that rejects the sluggish-growth narrative that has been dogging the stock.—
Natasha Abellard,
CNBC,
16 Oct. 2025
-
The White House rejects the suggestion that any of the president's social media posts have been racist.—
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The shake-up leaves an unusual number of spots open on the party’s Central Committee, which began its term in 2022 with 205 members and 171 non-voting alternates.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
20 Oct. 2025
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Ignoring more complex science leaves us with hundreds of years of neurologic damage to our children by leaving lead pipe in the ground.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
In early July, Russell Oswald, New York commissioner of corrections, received a letter with a list of 28 demands for reform, signed by five inmates calling themselves the Attica Liberation Faction.—
Michael Collins,
USA Today,
14 Oct. 2025
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Matt Reinhart wrote on Facebook that victim Mindy Clifton used to work in corrections in Florida before moving to Tennessee.—
Greg Norman,
FOXNews.com,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The novel can get busy—Taylor introduces each of Wyeth’s studio mates in the first chapter, then all but abandons half of them to squeeze in more significant characters—but there’s a warmth in the overcrowding.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Throughout the Knife Edge series, more than one chef actually abandons the Michelin race before the awards are announced, recognizing the unsustainable toll on their families, health, and even the restaurant’s bottom line.—
Laurie Woolever,
Rolling Stone,
11 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
However, the league seemingly deemed his actions not punishment-worthy, saving Mahomes from an $11,593 first-offense taunting penalty.—
Michael Gallagher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Oct. 2025
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Where Gentle Parenting Might Be Lacking Gentle parenting emphasizes empathy and respectful communication without harsh punishment, explains Cynthia Vejar, PhD, LPC, program director and associate professor of Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Lebanon Valley College.—
Sherri Gordon,
Parents,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The man, whose identity has not yet been made public, is being detained under the country's Mental Health Act, following an assessment by medical professionals in custody.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Gaza’s infrastructure is in a state of collapse, according to a UN assessment.—
Kara Fox,
CNN Money,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The surgeon withdraws the balloon and then squeezes the implant in through a sterile funnel before closing the incision.—
Jolene Edgar,
Allure,
15 Oct. 2025
-
An International Stabilization Force (ISF) is set to be deployed in Gaza once Israel withdraws, but key participating countries are already asking for clarity.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deserts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deserts. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
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