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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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
How will the last cockeyed optimist in popular culture deal with such desolation?
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 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
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
How will the last cockeyed optimist in popular culture deal with such desolation?
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for desolation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desolation
Noun
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Emotions were on full display with many expressing sadness and frustration, not only over Wednesday's federal raid, but raids happening around the Twin Cities over the last 40 days.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The initial answer to that question is a no, according to some evangelical pastors and commentators who reacted with shock and sadness to Yancey’s confession.—
John Blake,
CNN Money,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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These tours pair expert local guides, distinctive accommodations, and exclusive access (think private temple visits in Japan or luxury desert camps in Morocco) with a focus on meaningful community impact.—
Josh Roberts,
USA Today,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Detroit would be wandering the desert if not for beginning its rebuild by picking Moritz Seider, Lucas Raymond and Simon Edvinsson in the top six.—
Max Bultman,
New York Times,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The town was halfway through tearing down another home in disrepair on the next block.—
Katheryn Houghton,
NPR,
8 Jan. 2026
-
But the country’s oil infrastructure has fallen into disrepair following years of insufficient investment and sanctions.—
Chris Isidore,
CNN Money,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Yet amid the loss, in the year since the devastation, the community has not faltered.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The result was economic devastation on a historic scale.—
Jorge Valencia,
NPR,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Coppola and production designer Ziering will explore their creative partnership, the aesthetic and emotional storytelling that defines Coppola’s visual universe — from the suburban melancholy of Palo Alto to the luminous complexity of The Last Showgirl.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
29 Oct. 2025
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Full of dread and melancholy, the Austrian import flips the creepy-kid script a bit by centering on two boys (Elias and Lukas Schwarz) who wonder whether their mom (Susanne Wuest), whose head is wrapped in bandages after facial surgery, is actually their mom. 38.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Since the boycott, PEN has donated to Palestinian aid organizations, highlighted writers and journalists who have been targeted and killed by Israel, and released a report on the deliberate destruction of Palestinian cultural heritage.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Consumers and retailers should destroy affected products and not return them, as Gold Star will issue refunds with proof of destruction.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
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And on a more basic level, gardening activities also serve to reduce anxiety, aggression and depression, and to increase cognitive function.—
The San Diego Union Tribune,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Nov. 2025
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Feeling tired is not a typical sign of high blood pressure and is more often linked to other issues like poor sleep, depression, or low blood pressure.—
Alexandria Nyembwe,
Health,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Christian Barmore created a little more havoc against the run and pass than usual, but his only pressure was contained to the second quarter.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
6 Jan. 2026
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Dewan shared Fillion's sense of the havoc Monica is likely to cause in season 8.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Desolation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desolation. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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