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
Tracy Stone-Manning, Denver Post, 21 Apr. 2026
Gusty winds are expected in the mountains and deserts of Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties — enough to down tree limbs and trees and make driving high-profile vehicles difficult.
—Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Food deserts, school deserts, health care gaps and more become solvable when the school is not just a building but a center of stability, access and care.
—Stacy Davis Gates, Chicago Tribune, 19 Apr. 2026
There are 15 overall child care deserts out of 74 ZIP codes in Tarrant, and 40% of those deserts are considered to be chronic.
—Lina Ruiz
april 16, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Apr. 2026
In contrast, on the lower end of its range, relative humidity near Earth’s surface rarely falls below 30 percent, though humidity values of less than 1 percent do occur in some of Earth’s deserts from time to time.
—John P. Rafferty, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Apr. 2026
Stephanie Morton, executive director of Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies-The Montana Coalition, said more than half of Montana's counties are designated as maternity care deserts.
—Katheryn Houghton, NPR, 7 Apr. 2026
Post-Order 66 Jedi are often just lesser versions of Obi-Wan Kenobi or Yoda, skulking around in swamps and deserts, but this duo can't seem to stay away from the action.
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 6 Apr. 2026
Elephants are among the planet’s most majestic creatures, gentle giants who walk steadfastly through the savannas, forests and deserts of Africa and Asia.
—Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 2 Apr. 2026
Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 5 Dec. 2025
Based on the graphic novel of the same name by Isabel Greenberg, the upcoming adaptation follows a young bride named Cherry (scream queen Maika Monroe), whose husband (Amir El-Masry) deserts her in the care of the sexy Manfred (Nicholas Galitzine) and her maid, Hero (Emma Corrin).
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2025
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
Noun
Our public forests, rivers and deserts deserve to be treated better, and the federal land managers who work tirelessly deserve better.
—Tracy Stone-Manning, Denver Post, 21 Apr. 2026
Gusty winds are expected in the mountains and deserts of Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties — enough to down tree limbs and trees and make driving high-profile vehicles difficult.
—Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Food deserts, school deserts, health care gaps and more become solvable when the school is not just a building but a center of stability, access and care.
—Stacy Davis Gates, Chicago Tribune, 19 Apr. 2026
There are 15 overall child care deserts out of 74 ZIP codes in Tarrant, and 40% of those deserts are considered to be chronic.
—Lina Ruiz
april 16, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Apr. 2026
In contrast, on the lower end of its range, relative humidity near Earth’s surface rarely falls below 30 percent, though humidity values of less than 1 percent do occur in some of Earth’s deserts from time to time.
—John P. Rafferty, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Apr. 2026
Stephanie Morton, executive director of Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies-The Montana Coalition, said more than half of Montana's counties are designated as maternity care deserts.
—Katheryn Houghton, NPR, 7 Apr. 2026
Post-Order 66 Jedi are often just lesser versions of Obi-Wan Kenobi or Yoda, skulking around in swamps and deserts, but this duo can't seem to stay away from the action.
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 6 Apr. 2026
Elephants are among the planet’s most majestic creatures, gentle giants who walk steadfastly through the savannas, forests and deserts of Africa and Asia.
—Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 2 Apr. 2026
Verb
Sean, 17, deserts his post in the midst of the Iraq war and returns to England.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 5 Dec. 2025
Based on the graphic novel of the same name by Isabel Greenberg, the upcoming adaptation follows a young bride named Cherry (scream queen Maika Monroe), whose husband (Amir El-Masry) deserts her in the care of the sexy Manfred (Nicholas Galitzine) and her maid, Hero (Emma Corrin).
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2025
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
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What excites us most is that both have the kind of discipline, presence and emotional intelligence that is already translating seamlessly into film and television.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Artists frequently share spaces and collaborate across disciplines, creating a network that supports creative growth.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Against a backdrop of tennis courts, luxury hotels, and colonial privilege, simmering tensions erupt as Lan’s brother Tran rejects his wealthy family’s collaboration with the French to join Ho Chi Minh’s revolutionary cause, setting off an assassination that changes everything.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
15 Apr. 2026
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Miami summarily rejects anything resembling tanking because of a long-standing organizational philosophy that isn’t going to be revisited.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That leaves only right-hander Jacob Webb and left-handers Hoby Milner and Caleb Thielbar as veteran relievers for Counsell.—
Andy Martinez,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Apr. 2026
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That leaves Washington at a strange juncture, with widespread agreement among lawmakers that something should be done to address the issue of prediction markets.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Spot gold, which is currently trading at around $4,838 per ounce, has fallen about 10% from its late-January peak, slipping into correction territory even as geopolitical risks intensify.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
15 Apr. 2026
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The rally marks a sharp reversal from late March, when the Dow fell into correction territory — a drop of at least 10% from its recent high — after five straight weeks of losses, underscoring how quickly investor sentiment has shifted.—
Mary Cunningham,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But what happens when a poet abandons this essential tool?—
Patrick Dundon,
JSTOR Daily,
9 Apr. 2026
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The group quickly abandons the car, leaving the infant alone with at least one of the car doors open for an hour.—
Conor Wight,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The jury will decide his punishment.—
Amy McDaniel,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 Apr. 2026
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The 49-year-old from Carver, Massachusetts is accused of running a dogfighting operation for years; breeding and training dogs for violence and subjecting the animals to disturbing and cruel conditions and punishment.—
Juli McDonald,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
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In February, the department’s Institute of Education Sciences, which administers the assessments, was gutted by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
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If granted by the county, the incentive will reduce the assessment rate of the property from 25% to 10% for the first 10 years.—
Jennifer Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Each retiree withdraws $50,000 per year.—
Doug Ashburn,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
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Tax lien changes Fresh Start also introduced changes to how and when the IRS files and withdraws tax liens, and to the dollar amounts that trigger the issuance of a lien.—
Deane Biermeier,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deserts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deserts. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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