1
as in sadness
a state or spell of low spirits
his desolation after his twin brother died was incurable
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in disrepair
the state of being unattended to or not cared for
the desolation of the abandoned garden
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of desolation
But with the seventh plague, the degree of desolation increases.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026
So the desolation wilderness looks kind of bonkers.
—Outside Online, 18 Mar. 2026
Only death and desolation in the end.
—Harvey Levine, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
Capturing the dynamics of laborers, with a reimaging of fan covers as ornate hats, the texture of plastic bags is recreated, incorporating the clashing of neon lights to express both the vitality and desolation of street life.
—Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for desolation
Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026
So the desolation wilderness looks kind of bonkers.
—Outside Online, 18 Mar. 2026
Only death and desolation in the end.
—Harvey Levine, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
Capturing the dynamics of laborers, with a reimaging of fan covers as ornate hats, the texture of plastic bags is recreated, incorporating the clashing of neon lights to express both the vitality and desolation of street life.
—Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for desolation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desolation
Noun
-
The prospect filled me with surprising sadness.—
Hannah Goldfield,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
The bittersweet tale infused with humor and sadness chimed with the Cannes audience.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
The photo-rich hardcover follows a 1,200-mile odyssey into the heart of the world’s driest non-polar desert, the Atacama Desert in Chile.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 May 2026
-
Large portions of California consist of deserts, mountains, forests, and agricultural regions with little housing development.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
On the corner of Tyler Street Northeast and 18th Avenue Northeast in Minneapolis, sits a historic house in major disrepair.—
Ashley Grams,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
-
The amusement park fell into disrepair after World War II.—
Robert F. Moss,
Southern Living,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
The environmental devastation left behind is immense.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
13 May 2026
-
Former reality television star and current Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt welcomed Mother’s Day with an emotional video highlighting the devastation of the 2025 California wildfires on his family.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
While the actors are committed, poignant and warm, their upbeat tone doesn’t always blend well with the melancholy of the picture.—
Tomris Laffly,
Variety,
13 May 2026
-
These flashes of melancholy or yearning give the record complexity and depth, as well as stopping it from devolving into wackiness.—
Alastair Shuttleworth,
Pitchfork,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
Its offspring included Erebus (Darkness) and Nyx, who goes on to produce Ker (destruction), Thanatos (death), and Oizys (pain), among many others.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
-
Comments under the brand's post showing a photo of the destruction show support for the cupcake bakery.—
Chiara Kim,
PEOPLE,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Data from one primary care clinic in Los Angeles, shared exclusively with NPR, shows a sharp rise in anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts among patients.—
Rhitu Chatterjee,
NPR,
17 May 2026
-
Chronic circadian misalignment is associated with a 30-40% higher risk of cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, depression and anxiety.—
Allison Palmer,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
The inconsistent role wreaked havoc with his shot.—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
-
Just ask Panthers guard Robert Hunt, who has stories about Eagles fans climbing onto opposing team buses and wreaking havoc.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Desolation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desolation. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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