1
as in deserts
land that is uninhabited or not fit for crops
looked out over the vast untamed desolation to the north
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in disrepairs
the state of being unattended to or not cared for
the desolation of the abandoned garden
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in devastations
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desolations
Noun
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Outside, the world flashes by, a slideshow of rivers growing into oceans, deserts rising into mountains and cities sprawling then receding into darkness as the train thunders on through the night.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Jan. 2026 -
Whether you’re drawn to sandy deserts, ocean views, rugged mountains, or quiet meadows, there’s a way to bring your favorite outdoor feeling into every room.—
Kathy Barnes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The population surge caused widespread urchin barrens across the islands.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Dec. 2025
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Given the surrounding terrain, largely comprising volcanic barrens and lava fields, the risk of wildfire remains low, and no life-threatening impacts have been identified.—
Isabel van Brugen,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
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In a study of 926 species across climatic zones, 47% are undergoing local extinctions, just like the lizards.—
Sarah Henry,
AZCentral.com,
22 Nov. 2025
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These extinctions were driven mostly by European agriculture and the introduction of non-native species that outcompeted Australian animals.—
Mindy Weisberger,
CNN Money,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The demolitions took place just before the city hosted the 1996 Summer Olympics.—
Idrees Kahloon,
The Atlantic,
29 Jan. 2026
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The second wave of demolitions came in 2019, when the Hecht and Stanford residential colleges’ four towers began to come down, to be replaced by Centennial Village, a collection of five new residential colleges in a sleekly glassy contemporary design by VMDO Architects of Virginia.—
Andres Viglucci,
Miami Herald,
15 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Desolations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desolations. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
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