1
as in deserts
land that is uninhabited or not fit for crops
looked out over the vast untamed desolation to the north
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in disrepairs
the state of being unattended to or not cared for
the desolation of the abandoned garden
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in devastations
the state or fact of being rendered nonexistent, physically unsound, or useless
the nuclear attack resulted in a scene of utter desolation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desolations
Noun
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Beginning in the late 1960s, artists abandoned galleries in favour of deserts, salt flats, mesas, and remote terrain, using these surroundings as both setting and material.
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In the low-elevation deserts of Eastern California, the sun sits high in the sky during late June and pours energy into the ground for much of the day.
Noun
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Instant extinctions are not limited to mechanical innovations like photography and cinematography, however.
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Although the cartilaginous fish have survived the last five extinctions our planet has faces, more than a third of shark and ray species are threatened with extinction due to overfishing, habitat loss and climate change.
Noun
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In its place urchin barrens now carpet the seafloor; a spiny, silent landscape stripped of life.
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The forests are marked by sparse conifer stands, woodlands, herbaceous vegetation, and unvegetated barrens that dominate the transition to Arctic tundra.
Noun
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McMahon said seven office buildings are planned for redevelopment with the potential to create more than 750 residential units, with some demolitions likely.
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The measure would suspend Historic Preservation Board review across the Downtown Historic District for three years, routing decisions — including demolitions — around the board entirely.
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Cite this Entry
“Desolations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desolations. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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