desolation

noun

ˌde-sə-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce desolation (audio)
Definition of desolationnext
1
as in sadness
a state or spell of low spirits his desolation after his twin brother died was incurable

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2
as in desert
land that is uninhabited or not fit for crops looked out over the vast untamed desolation to the north

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3
as in disrepair
the state of being unattended to or not cared for the desolation of the abandoned garden

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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

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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 desolation Amid relative desolation, Merrill went 2-for-3 off Sánchez, perhaps the early favorite for the National League Cy Young Award. — Dennis Lin, New York Times, 28 May 2026 The formerly high-end shopping destination, featured as a backdrop for a scene in a 1985 John Hughes movie, has more recently devolved into desolation. — Audrey Pachuta, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026 On Carve, despondency and desolation remain her default modes. — Colin Joyce, Pitchfork, 21 Apr. 2026 The neighborhood/area While visitors are encouraged to tour Cockburn Harbor, South Caicos’s capital and largest settlement, the island’s appeal is its desolation. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for desolation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desolation
  1. sadness
  2. desert
  3. disrepair
  4. devastation
  5. melancholy
  6. destruction
  7. depression
  8. havoc
Noun
  • Her sadness and traumatic experiences, such as the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing and the death of her ex-boyfriend Mac Miller in 2018, have become intertwined with her career.
    — Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 31 July 2026
  • Compared to individual contributors, leaders were substantially more likely–by seven percentage points–to report experiencing a lot of stress, anger (+12 points), sadness (+11 points) and loneliness (+10 points) the previous day.
    — Barnaby Lashbrooke, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of sadness
Noun
  • Monogram Dune was inspired by the shifting beauty of a desert landscape, where light continuously transforms color and depth.
    — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • An extreme heat warning was in place for the high desert, with temperatures potentially reaching 112 degrees in the Antelope Valley and 120 in the Mojave Desert.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of desert
Noun
  • Two refrigeration units needed repairs or were otherwise in disrepair.
    — Vince Basada August 7, Sacbee.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • From there, drive north to Moscow, about 40 minutes away, and check into the Monarch Motel, a mid-century motel rescued from disrepair in 2015.
    — Lauren Mowery, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of disrepair
Noun
  • Scientists expect more wildfire devastation as people move closer to danger and climate change ups wildfire risk.
    — Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026
  • However, the article emphasizes socialism's historical failures, citing the collapse of the Soviet Union and Venezuela's severe economic devastation under socialist policies.
    — Mike Patton, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of devastation
Noun
  • Beneath all the sensuality and beauty, there’s also a lingering melancholy that feels very familiar to me.
    — Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 16 June 2026
  • Don Hertzfeldt occasionally comes to mind for a similarly pervasive mood of questioning, philosophical melancholy.
    — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 12 June 2026
Definition of melancholy
Noun
  • Since October 2023, the number and severity of settler attacks have skyrocketed, including arson and other destruction of property, the killing of livestock, violent assaults and murder, taking place almost every day.
    — Kamel Musallet, Sun Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2026
  • While the film has long been remembered for ambition, excess, and destruction, Tyga saw another narrative waiting beneath the chaos—a love story.
    — Desjah Altvater, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of destruction
Noun
  • Andrew has also used neuroimaging research projects to study aging and dementia, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, depression, and other neurological and psychiatric disorders.
    — Big Think, Big Think, 6 Aug. 2026
  • And any product promising to treat pain, anxiety, depression, or withdrawal should stop you outright.
    — Jesse M. Pines, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of depression
Noun
  • Iran has aimed significant firepower at its neighbors’ refineries, oil exports and tourist attractions, inflicting economic havoc on the Gulf states and the countries that do business with them.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
  • This can create a tricky situation if those roots are causing havoc around your home’s foundation or otherwise disrupting your landscaping.
    — Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of havoc

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Cite this Entry

“Desolation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desolation. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of desolation for Spanish Speakers

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