wasteland
noun
waste·land
ˈwāst-ˌland 
also -lənd
1
: barren or uncultivated land
a desert wasteland
2
: an ugly often devastated or barely inhabitable place or area
3
: something (such as a way of life) that is spiritually and emotionally arid and unsatisfying
Examples of wasteland in a Sentence
The outskirts of the city became a grim industrial wasteland.
That part of the country is a cultural wasteland.
the vast wasteland of television
Recent Examples on the Web
The two lone wolves traverse a wasteland of vast canyons, derelict cityscapes and blazing oil fields, digitally rendered on blue screens.
—
J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 7 Mar. 2025
The Israeli campaign has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, displaced almost all of its 2.3 million population and left Gaza a wasteland.
—Emily Rose, USA TODAY, 2 Mar. 2025
They were lost boys looking for fun in the urban wasteland, but almost accidentally inventing punk rock.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 1 Mar. 2025
Knowing the enemy In addition to fat-rich places like the lungs, cancers can adapt to surprisingly challenging locales, such as the barren wasteland that is the spinal fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
—Amber Dance, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wasteland
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.
J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 7 Mar. 2025
The Israeli campaign has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, displaced almost all of its 2.3 million population and left Gaza a wasteland.
—Emily Rose, USA TODAY, 2 Mar. 2025
They were lost boys looking for fun in the urban wasteland, but almost accidentally inventing punk rock.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 1 Mar. 2025
Knowing the enemy In addition to fat-rich places like the lungs, cancers can adapt to surprisingly challenging locales, such as the barren wasteland that is the spinal fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
—Amber Dance, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wasteland
Cite this Entry
“Wasteland.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wasteland. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
wasteland
noun
waste·land
ˈwāst-ˌland
1
: land that is not cultivated or not fit for the cultivation of crops
2
: an ugly often ruined place or area
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share