Definition of wastelandnext
as in desert
land that is uninhabited or not fit for crops with proper irrigation and fertilizer, they turned the desert wasteland into a fertile plain

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 wasteland This version is set in a seemingly poisonous, post-nuclear wasteland, filled with flaming tree trunks. Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2026 The biggest issue with Tatis batting first all of 2025 was that the bottom of the Padres’ order was a wasteland. Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026 Some ghouls lose their humanity, while others become more violent shells of their former selves, attacking the wasteland creatures and the player. Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 26 Feb. 2026 In the current atmosphere, where so many have been conditioned to believe that the news media is a liberal wasteland, confirmation bias helps with the heavy lifting. Brenda Looper, Arkansas Online, 11 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wasteland
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wasteland
desert
Noun
  • As well as acting as a bulwark against the desert’s encroachment, the greenery is intended to improve agricultural conditions and reduce political unrest in the area, and will act as a carbon sink, Gizmodo reported.
    Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 3 Apr. 2026
  • Previously, Cassidy worked for the Arizona Republic covering Phoenix police, Sheriff Joe Arpaio and desert-area crime and mayhem.
    Megan Cassidy, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wasteland.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wasteland. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on wasteland

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster