no-man's-land

noun

ˈnō-ˌmanz-ˌland How to pronounce no-man's-land (audio)
Definition of no-man's-landnext
as in desert
land that is uninhabited or not fit for crops the city's decayed industrial quarter is a no-man's-land of abandoned factories and weedy vacant lots

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of no-man's-land When this happens, their planet goes back and forth between being a searing, endless stretch of desert or frozen no-man's-land. — Jp Mangalindan, Peoplemag, 29 Mar. 2024 Abandoned by King Hassan II for its association with the Rif mountain revolts after Moroccan independence, in 1956, Tangier became a dilapidated drive-through, a no-man's-land for another 50 years. — Stephanie Rafanelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2023 Today, guerrillas, drug smugglers, poachers, and jaguars rule this vast no-man's-land. — David Ewing Duncan, Outside Online, 17 May 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for no-man's-land
desert
Noun
  • Algiers to Djanet—a little oasis town in Algeria’s southeast near the Libya and Niger borders—is a two-hour flight, usually scheduled in the middle of the night (to avoid desert winds during the day, so I was told).
    — Heather Richardson, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Tozeur is the main base for visiting Mos Espa, Ong Jemel and Jebel Sidi Bouhlel, with local operators offering half-day and full-day 4x4 excursions into the desert.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of desert

Browse Nearby Words

nomads
no-man's-land
no-man's-lands
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Cite this Entry

“No-man's-land.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/no-man%27s-land. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026.

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