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
Ochoa’s snide speech about his privileged private school becomes a wrenching aria of desolation and need.
—
Steven Winn, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Apr. 2026
But with the seventh plague, the degree of desolation increases.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026
So the desolation wilderness looks kind of bonkers.
—Outside Online, 18 Mar. 2026
Only death and desolation in the end.
—Harvey Levine, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for desolation
Steven Winn, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Apr. 2026
But with the seventh plague, the degree of desolation increases.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026
So the desolation wilderness looks kind of bonkers.
—Outside Online, 18 Mar. 2026
Only death and desolation in the end.
—Harvey Levine, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for desolation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desolation
Noun
-
Fear, joy, surprise, sadness, excitement.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
18 June 2026
-
Exceeding expectations As a trip set mainly in concentration camps, sadness is often the top expectation.—
Jessica Tzikas,
Sun Sentinel,
18 June 2026
Noun
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Wild lavender flowers fill Saudi’s desert landscapes in springtime, so purple is a celebrated color in the nation and regarded as a symbol of generosity.—
Steve Douglas,
Chicago Tribune,
19 June 2026
-
Until that changes, maternity care deserts will continue to expand — and the distance between patients and care will continue to grow.—
Jocelyn Mitchell-Williams,
STAT,
19 June 2026
Noun
-
Unfortunately, the abbey fell into a state of disrepair for many years until Philippe Pascal and his family acquired the property in 2004 and upgraded not just the estate but the entire region’s standing.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
17 June 2026
-
The Genesis Convention Center, which had fallen into disuse and disrepair, opened in 1981.—
Doug Ross,
Chicago Tribune,
16 June 2026
Noun
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Williams views Leap Life—named after his leap-year birthday—as an attempt to commune with the dead, particularly in light of the ongoing devastation in Palestine, Sudan, Haiti, Congo, and Yemen.—
Alex Suskind,
Pitchfork,
17 June 2026
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Hanuse uses footage of the smallpox survivors in the film that is over 100 years old, underscoring the devastation but also their strength.—
Carole Horst,
Variety,
17 June 2026
Noun
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Beneath all the sensuality and beauty, there’s also a lingering melancholy that feels very familiar to me.—
Erik Pedersen,
Oc Register,
16 June 2026
-
Early Years Eichenberg recounted his childhood with some melancholy.—
Jessica George,
JSTOR Daily,
27 May 2026
Noun
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David Hearn, a former Olympic canoeist, told the the Washington Post he was arrested on June 19 and charged with misdemeanor destruction of government property.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
23 June 2026
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This came on the heels of another round of tornadoes just four days earlier that leveled buildings and caused widespread destruction across the region.—
Briana Waxman,
CNN Money,
22 June 2026
Noun
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Chronic sleep deprivation increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression, cognitive decline, and impaired immune function.—
Ezekiel J. Emanuel,
Fortune,
21 June 2026
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American men are less likely than women to be diagnosed with depression, but four times more likely to die by suicide – a disparity that, researchers say, indicates many are suffering in silence.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
21 June 2026
Noun
-
To wreak havoc on an unknown person.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
20 June 2026
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He was also caught on surveillance video allegedly on the attack outside a pizzeria with a weapon, the outlet reported, adding that social media videos show havoc in other areas of the city as well.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
20 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Desolation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desolation. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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