DESOLATE Synonyms: 375 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'desolate' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of desolate are bleak , cheerless , dismal , dreary , and gloomy . While all these words mean "devoid of cheer or comfort," desolate adds an element of utter remoteness or lack of human contact to any already disheartening aspect. // a desolate outpost

Q: Where would 'bleak' be a reasonable alternative to 'desolate'?

The words bleak and desolate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, bleak suggests chill, dull, and barren characteristics that utterly dishearten. // the bleak years of the depression

Q: When is 'cheerless' a more appropriate choice than 'desolate'?

The words cheerless and desolate can be used in similar contexts, but cheerless stresses absence of anything cheering. // a drab and cheerless office

Q: When might 'dismal' be a better fit than 'desolate'?

In some situations, the words dismal and desolate are roughly equivalent. However, dismal indicates extreme and utterly depressing gloominess. // dismal weather

Q: When could 'dreary' be used to replace 'desolate'?

Although the words dreary and desolate have much in common, dreary , often interchangeable with dismal , emphasizes discouragement resulting from sustained dullness or futility. // a dreary job

Q: When is it sensible to use 'gloomy' instead of 'desolate'?

The meanings of gloomy and desolate largely overlap; however, gloomy often suggests lack of hope or promise. // gloomy war news

desolate 1 of 2

adjective

ˈde-sə-lət

Definition of desolate

as in bleak

causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer a desolate house abandoned many years ago

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in lonely

sad from lack of companionship or separation from others he was less desolate after adopting a rescue dog

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in deserted

left unoccupied or unused a desolate mining town that had its brief heyday more than a century ago

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in barren

producing inferior or only a small amount of vegetation wild, desolate plains on which only the hardiest could survive

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

desolate

2 of 2

verb

ˈde-sə-ˌlāt

as in to ruin

to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of totally desolated the city with aerial bombs

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective desolate contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of desolate are bleak, cheerless, dismal, dreary, and gloomy. While all these words mean "devoid of cheer or comfort," desolate adds an element of utter remoteness or lack of human contact to any already disheartening aspect.

a desolate outpost

Where would bleak be a reasonable alternative to desolate?

The words bleak and desolate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, bleak suggests chill, dull, and barren characteristics that utterly dishearten.

the bleak years of the depression

When is cheerless a more appropriate choice than desolate?

The words cheerless and desolate can be used in similar contexts, but cheerless stresses absence of anything cheering.

a drab and cheerless office

When might dismal be a better fit than desolate?

In some situations, the words dismal and desolate are roughly equivalent. However, dismal indicates extreme and utterly depressing gloominess.

dismal weather

When could dreary be used to replace desolate?

Although the words dreary and desolate have much in common, dreary, often interchangeable with dismal, emphasizes discouragement resulting from sustained dullness or futility.

a dreary job

When is it sensible to use gloomy instead of desolate?

The meanings of gloomy and desolate largely overlap; however, gloomy often suggests lack of hope or promise.

gloomy war news

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 desolate

Adjective

Walking around the tiny outpost offers an understanding of just how vast and desolate this arid part of the country can be. — Maryam Siddiqi, Travel + Leisure, 30 June 2026 In the summer it had been packed with people out on the streets, by the fall is was desolate. — Bloomberg News, Boston Herald, 27 June 2026 On Tuesday, Distrito Catorce’s neighboring Mariachi Plaza, a normally bustling landmark, felt desolate. — Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2026 Wilderness Little Kulala is about a 45-minute drive outside the park, located in a seemingly desolate rocky plain with harsh, jagged mountains interspersed throughout the flatlands. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for desolate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for desolate

Adjective

Before yesterday’s vote, the prospects for BPC-157 appeared bleak.

— Tom Bartlett, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026
Recent headlines about technology jobs have often presented a bleak outlook.

— Felysha Walker, Kansas City Star, 24 July 2026

Definition of bleak

Adjective

That’s why even a creator with millions of followers can be lonely inside a system.

— Belonging Forum, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
One problem with all these efforts to mitigate old-age loneliness, Schiller notes, is that the loneliest generation is actually Gen Z.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2026

Definition of lonely

Adjective

The primary targets are obvious; pitchers Mason Miller, Adrian Morejon and Michael King could be deployed to replenish a largely barren farm system.

— Dennis Lin, New York Times, 21 July 2026
In many cases, trees that in years past have been filled with fruit are this year barren.

— Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026

Definition of barren

Verb

Being asked to prove yourself to AI can play havoc on your confidence and ruin your chances of getting your foot in the door.

— Colleen Batchelder, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Not that Miss Manners is excusing those who burst into dinner parties after the roast has been ruined — along with the other guests’ attitudes, most likely — and then blame it on traffic.

— Judith Martin, Mercury News, 28 July 2026

Definition of ruin

Adjective

Protesters covered events in real time, filming Instagram reels, sharing videos and memes – often laced with dark humor and jibes at Modi – and posting updates from the protest site.

— Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 28 July 2026
The path of totality — the moon’s dark shadow — will cross eastern Greenland, western Iceland and northern Spain, from where the sun’s corona will become visible, if skies are clear, for up to 2 minutes 18 seconds.

— Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026

Definition of dark

Adjective

In 1984, the museum presented 48 of her works at a disused brick gas station on the grounds of the Temporary Contemporary.

— Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 28 July 2026
The planes were carrying Israeli commandos to a disused airport-terminal building in Uganda, on the shores of Lake Victoria.

— Anne Neuberger, The Atlantic, 3 July 2026

Definition of disused

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“Desolate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desolate. Accessed 31 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of desolate

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