1
as in sadness
a state or spell of low spirits
his desolation after his twin brother died was incurable
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in disrepair
the state of being unattended to or not cared for
the desolation of the abandoned garden
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in devastation
the state or fact of being rendered nonexistent, physically unsound, or useless
the nuclear attack resulted in a scene of utter desolation
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of desolation
The landscapes of southernmost Louisiana pair opulent biodiversity with postapocalyptic desolation.
—
Nathaniel Rich, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
Even beyond the pulsing techno soundtrack and the majestic desolation of the landscape, Sirât (the title referring to the Islamic term for the razor-thin bridge between heaven and hell) creates a sensory experience of audacity and shock that touches the sublime.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2025
Netanyahu reset the war clock, and erased the calendar of desolation.
—Orly Halpern, Time, 18 June 2025
Decades later, amid this desolation, scientists made an astonishing discovery: fungi thriving by literally feeding off the radioactive decay.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for desolation
Nathaniel Rich, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
Even beyond the pulsing techno soundtrack and the majestic desolation of the landscape, Sirât (the title referring to the Islamic term for the razor-thin bridge between heaven and hell) creates a sensory experience of audacity and shock that touches the sublime.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2025
Netanyahu reset the war clock, and erased the calendar of desolation.
—Orly Halpern, Time, 18 June 2025
Decades later, amid this desolation, scientists made an astonishing discovery: fungi thriving by literally feeding off the radioactive decay.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for desolation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desolation
Noun
-
But the sadness at seeing Nuno depart does not equate to an anti-Postecoglou sentiment.—
Paul Taylor,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Any book that centers love, friendship, dependence, entwinement, with humor, grace, sadness, pathos, that has such immense warmth and care at the core, is the best kind of book to me.—
Emily Temple,
Literary Hub,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Meals are hyper-locally sourced, in part from the garden out back tended by the head of grounds—who also doubles as the yoga instructor—and serve as an education to the flora and fauna of the desert.—
Laura Dannen Redman,
Robb Report,
16 Oct. 2025
-
The project was inspired by real military training camps in the California desert.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Detroit once was plagued by a lack of reliable city services, with several neighborhoods in disrepair.—
Dana Afana,
Freep.com,
9 Oct. 2025
-
But the club closed in 2016 and remains in disrepair.—
Desiree Mathurin,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Behind Sarnow and Common Council members, employees used equipment to lift a wrecked SUV with its left front side smashed in, a somber reminder of the devastation caused by reckless driving.—
Hope Karnopp,
jsonline.com,
15 Oct. 2025
-
The fighting has also contributed to environmental devastation.—
Simmone Shah,
Time,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
An aura of melancholy does not stop Madvillainy from being endlessly joyful and playful.—
Pitchfork,
Pitchfork,
30 Sep. 2025
-
But even here, the ache of the lovers’ separation registers with only a muffled sense of melancholy.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Aghion and Howitt studied the mechanisms behind sustained growth, including in a 1992 article that offered a complex mathematical model for creative destruction that added new aspects not included in earlier models.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Still, through the summer of 2020, stories of statue destruction emerged from all corners of the country.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
13 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Additionally, mental health plays a significant role in global mortality, according to the new research, with burden from anxiety and depression surging.—
Deidre McPhillips,
CNN Money,
12 Oct. 2025
-
What begins as occasional recreational betting too often spirals into financial instability, anxiety and depression, and high-risk habits.—
Paul Solotaroff,
Rolling Stone,
12 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Almost serpentine in her shimmering elegance, Thompson’s Hedda glides from room to room wreaking social havoc with her guests, an old lover, and even her husband that will, ultimately, have tragic consequences for all.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Oct. 2025
-
In contrast, effective interplay between James McClean, Doyle and O’Brien down the left was minimal, allowing QPR to dominate that flank, particularly during a first half when Harvey Vale and Rumarn Burrell caused havoc.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Desolation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desolation. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
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