as in bleak
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer
grew up in the kind of godforsaken town in which everyone drank in order to forget that they were there
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Recent Examples of godforsaken
Viewed from a distance through a telephoto lens, his demise in a godforsaken town, at the hands of Somoza’s troops, is random, scruffy, and dumb.
—
Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025
First, the company claims credit for turning central Florida from a godforsaken wasteland into a thriving economic engine for the entire state.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2023
Deep down part of me hoped that this godforsaken place would burn to the ground — after all the prisoners had escaped, of course.
—Kylie Moore-Gilbert, CNN, 24 Oct. 2022
This game, this godforsaken 20-20 tie, was two bad teams racing to the bottom and getting there at the same time.
—Gregg Doyel, USA TODAY, 12 Sep. 2022
See All Example Sentences for godforsaken
Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025
First, the company claims credit for turning central Florida from a godforsaken wasteland into a thriving economic engine for the entire state.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2023
Deep down part of me hoped that this godforsaken place would burn to the ground — after all the prisoners had escaped, of course.
—Kylie Moore-Gilbert, CNN, 24 Oct. 2022
This game, this godforsaken 20-20 tie, was two bad teams racing to the bottom and getting there at the same time.
—Gregg Doyel, USA TODAY, 12 Sep. 2022
See All Example Sentences for godforsaken
Recent Examples of Synonyms for godforsaken
Adjective
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That’s partly because their bleak ending feels like a foregone conclusion from the start, even as Levinson’s frequently funny script crackles with comic depravity.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
10 Apr. 2026
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While the subject matter is bleak, Almodóvar balances the darkness with a tenderness and sensitivity that comes from a career of exploring women's lives at their most intimate.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The field, a desolate oil patch, will eventually be the central location for what became known as the Texas Killing Fields.—
John Wayne Ferguson,
Houston Chronicle,
3 Apr. 2026
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Miller and Cook were two of four young women whose bodies were found between 1984 and 1991 in a rural field off a desolate dirt road in League City, located about 28 miles (45 kilometers) southeast of Houston.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Inside Safe providers acknowledged that motel rooms can be a huge adjustment, leaving people feeling lonely and isolated.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Apr. 2026
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Days can feel long and lonely after one retires.—
Cathy Bussewitz,
Fortune,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Sunscreen protects against sun damage, premature aging and dark spots.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Apr. 2026
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Harden, 36, with his famous, protruding beard and those dark, piercing eyes, was determined to use his star power to get his way, to bring with him a slice of comfort to a new city.—
Joe Vardon,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Sam Levinson’s vision of a woman’s life is pretty depressing.—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
10 Apr. 2026
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In his teaching, Weil conveyed his love for Russian literature’s very lengthy — and at times dark and depressing — novels with enthusiasm and aplomb, colleagues recalled.—
Bob Goldsborough,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Longitudinal studies report 2 to 5 times higher risk for major depressive episodes during perimenopause compared with late premenopause.—
Allison Palmer,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
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Studies have shown that giving ketamine without psychological support can reduce depressive symptoms and suicidality within hours.—
O. Rose Broderick,
STAT,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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But just beneath the surface lies a somber discussion about the most famous man in the sport, who is a long way from here.—
Don Riddell,
CNN Money,
9 Apr. 2026
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On its face, this has felt like an Easter season more in keeping with the downcast mood of Maundy Thursday, commemorating the Last Supper, followed by the betrayal and arrest of Christ, or Good Friday, a somber day of reflection marking Jesus’ death on the cross.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Scenes from some of the Robert Pearson character’s old movies are done in a 1940s Hollywood style using young actors that resemble James Dean or Robert Mitchum juxtaposed with the stark, solemn, isolated existence of the elderly Pearson.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
9 Apr. 2026
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Although the pope celebrates mass regularly on Sundays, feast days, and many other occasions, the Urbi et Orbi blessing is much rarer, reserved for solemn events in the church’s liturgical calendar.—
Leo XIV,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Godforsaken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/godforsaken. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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