as in barren
land that is uninhabited or not fit for crops
we were lost in the desert for days without food
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in discipline
usually deserts plural
suffering, loss, or hardship imposed in response to a crime or offense
the robbers got their just deserts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to abandon
to leave (a cause or party) often in order to take up another
the volunteer became disillusioned with his candidate and deserted to a political rival
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to leave
to cause to remain behind
deserted the kids at the food court for some independent shopping
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in arid
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of desert
Ignacio Calderon,
USA Today,
3 July 2026
Primm, Nevada, was once a beacon in the desert for travelers driving on Interstate 15 from Southern California to Las Vegas — a family-friendly destination, and the first place to gamble right over the Nevada border.
—
Christopher Intagliata,
NPR,
3 July 2026
ABC News,
8 June 2026
Lebanon’s economy began to collapse in 2019, causing salaries to plummet; many enlistees were forced to take second jobs, and others to desert altogether.
—
Euan Ward,
New Yorker,
29 May 2026
Ope Adetayo,
Los Angeles Times,
3 May 2026
Spring training shifts into high gear this week with the Cubs and White Sox meeting on Friday in a cross-desert classic to start Cactus League play.
—
Matt Zahn,
CBS News,
16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for desert
Noun
Arizona's population is concentrated in Phoenix and Tucson, which often reach triple-digit temperatures, while New Mexico's biggest city is Albuquerque, which is located in a comparatively mild high-desert climate.
—
Ignacio Calderon,
USA Today,
3 July 2026
Primm, Nevada, was once a beacon in the desert for travelers driving on Interstate 15 from Southern California to Las Vegas — a family-friendly destination, and the first place to gamble right over the Nevada border.
—
Christopher Intagliata,
NPR,
3 July 2026
Verb
Korda managed to keep it together when her swing, which felt so pure in the practice rounds, deserted her in an opening round of 73 that left her seven shots behind.
—
ABC News,
8 June 2026
Lebanon’s economy began to collapse in 2019, causing salaries to plummet; many enlistees were forced to take second jobs, and others to desert altogether.
—
Euan Ward,
New Yorker,
29 May 2026
Adjective
The terrain is mountainous, a mix of desert and semi-desert plains.
—
Ope Adetayo,
Los Angeles Times,
3 May 2026
Spring training shifts into high gear this week with the Cubs and White Sox meeting on Friday in a cross-desert classic to start Cactus League play.
—
Matt Zahn,
CBS News,
16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for desert
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desert
Noun
-
No one who witnessed the football wasteland of England 0-0 Algeria in Cape Town in 2010 will ever forget it.
-
This leaves the mid-market trapped in a dangerous wasteland, forced into destructive promotional cycles to protect foot traffic without possessing the scale to survive thin margins.
Noun
-
Platforms built around incentive capture, funding cost discipline and structural durability are well-positioned to deliver the hedge that households are now actively seeking.
-
The Honorary Award is given to honor extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement, exceptional contributions to the state of motion picture arts and sciences in any discipline, or outstanding service to the Academy.
Verb
-
According to the American Medical Association, 78% of physicians report that prior authorization delays have led patients to abandon recommended treatment.
-
Later that day, deputies found her van abandoned in a field near Interstate 95, but Graham had seemingly vanished without a trace.
Verb
-
The video assistant referee called for a review of the play while the two were down getting tended to by trainers, leaving the Americans to nurse their lead down a man for the rest of the game.
-
Two of the attackers then smashed the windshield of the news van with a parking cone and damaged the camera before leaving the scene.
Adjective
-
As noted by the Brewers broadcast, a second-inning double by A’s shortstop Alika Williams might have gone foul if not for the extremely arid Las Vegas air.
-
The semi-arid region’s population has exploded over the past century—the river served only 457,000 people in 1922—as has its agriculture sector, which now covers more than 5 million acres of farmland and accounts for 70% of all water use.
Noun
-
Hike in pristine wilderness, go for a dip in Lake Siskiyou or Castle Lake, or get on a rushing river with a local outfitter.
-
After years in the baseball wilderness, Martin and the Chicago White Sox have found their way.
Noun
-
Even after submission, reports frequently bounce back for corrections, forcing officers to sit at their desks instead of returning to the community.
-
BofA said the dollar's recent price action is closely tracking its 2016-2018 pattern, when the greenback rallied in the second half of 2018 after a lengthy correction.
Verb
-
Those seeking to stop the roundup reject almost all of the federal agencies’ claims, from the size of the herd to the notion that the horses cause ecological damage.
-
While state studies have criticized the state’s education governance model, voters have rejected at least four attempts dating back to 1928 to reform the position.
Cite this Entry
“Desert.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desert. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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