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
Even beyond the pulsing techno soundtrack and the majestic desolation of the landscape, Sirât (the title referring to the Islamic term for the razor-thin bridge between heaven and hell) creates a sensory experience of audacity and shock that touches the sublime.
—
Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2025
Netanyahu reset the war clock, and erased the calendar of desolation.
—Orly Halpern, Time, 18 June 2025
She’s found the desolation isn’t limited to Grand Central Market.
—Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2025
Visit the Less-Trafficked Side While the oceanside of Jockey’s Ridge’s claim to fame is the dunes, which mimic the desolation of the desert, the Roanoke Sound border of the park on the western side is just the opposite.
—Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for desolation
Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2025
Netanyahu reset the war clock, and erased the calendar of desolation.
—Orly Halpern, Time, 18 June 2025
She’s found the desolation isn’t limited to Grand Central Market.
—Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2025
Visit the Less-Trafficked Side While the oceanside of Jockey’s Ridge’s claim to fame is the dunes, which mimic the desolation of the desert, the Roanoke Sound border of the park on the western side is just the opposite.
—Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for desolation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desolation
Noun
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Frustration can push us to solve problems, sadness can deepen your appreciation for joy and worry can sometimes sharpen your focus.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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But sadness, anxiety, anger and frustration can be channeled into actions such as becoming involved in activism and volunteering to help the survivors and society at large.—
Arash Javanbakht,
The Conversation,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
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He’s thrilled to accept an invitation to spend a week doing some heavy-duty training with his idol, star quarterback Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans), at White’s remote desert compound.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
19 Sep. 2025
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But very few places have two, none have two in the desert, and none are attached to a cool, upscale casinos resort like this one, with lots of dining and entrainment on site, in the middle of the city.—
Larry Olmsted,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The hotel fell into some level of disrepair as the prior ownership group was preoccupied with three court proceedings that were filed in an attempt to retain control of the property, according to BrightSpire.—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
10 Sep. 2025
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The problem is especially acute in cities like Philadelphia, where many school buildings are over 70 years old and in disrepair.—
Ana Santos Rutschman,
The Conversation,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The devastation was swift and heartbreaking and resulted in one of the worst natural disasters in the area’s history.—
Graham Averill,
Outside,
16 Sep. 2025
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At festivals, word of mouth travels fast, and before long, a movie that promises complete emotional devastation becomes the hottest ticket in town.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The result is a film that glimmers with moments of wit and melancholy but never settles into coherence.—
Leila Latif,
IndieWire,
31 Aug. 2025
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The film is a series of character studies, quiet, observational and non-judgmental – a comedy, but interwoven with threads of melancholy.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
29 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The developing cauldron would trap Russian troops with few options beyond surrender or destruction.—
David Kirichenko,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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Earth, meanwhile, has so far been unable to bring about its own destruction.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
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In these homes, the conflict between budgeting and feeding kids well creates huge psychological stress for parents, which can lead to anxiety and depression, fueling the vicious cycle of stress and unhealthy eating, Beresin said.—
Yasmin Tayag,
The Atlantic,
14 Sep. 2025
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In recent years, the Brit had been open about his struggles with alcohol, drugs and depression.—
Jamie Barton,
CNN Money,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Turner made some key adjustments at the plate for this season to focus on creating havoc on the basepaths rather than hitting just for power.—
Peter Chawaga,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
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Offensive line woes help Falcons cause havoc There were other issues leading to the problems that McCarthy faced, including injuries to backup left tackle Justin Skule and center Ryan Kelly.—
Steve Silverman,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Desolation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desolation. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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