Definition of wastelandnext
as in desert
land that is uninhabited or not fit for crops with proper irrigation and fertilizer, they turned the desert wasteland into a fertile plain

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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 wasteland By last year, the former wasteland had been transformed into a dense, productive Duzhong forest. Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 31 Jan. 2026 The film is shot like the dirty, oppressive wasteland it’s meant to be, and a lot of credit goes to the ensemble assembled here. Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 30 Jan. 2026 The documentary focuses on the inhabitants of Antarctica, and captures an apparent moment of madness within a colony of Adélie penguins, who endure scathingly harsh conditions in the icy wasteland. Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026 She's seen that the wasteland is a very difficult place, full of suffering. Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wasteland
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wasteland
desert
Noun
  • Guthrie lives on nearly an acre, in a brown-brick, ranch-style house with an attached garage, a short gravel driveway, and desert landscaping.
    Paige Williams, New Yorker, 14 Feb. 2026
  • Pops of yellow flowers and ribbons dot the desert neighborhood as a message of hope for the family.
    Liz Kreutz, NBC news, 13 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Wasteland.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wasteland. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.

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