wasteland

noun

waste·​land ˈwāst-ˌland How to pronounce wasteland (audio)
 also  -lənd
1
: barren or uncultivated land
a desert wasteland
2
: an ugly often devastated or barely inhabitable place or area
3
: something (such as a way of life) that is spiritually and emotionally arid and unsatisfying

Examples of wasteland in a Sentence

The outskirts of the city became a grim industrial wasteland. That part of the country is a cultural wasteland. the vast wasteland of television
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
As any Martian rover will tell you, the surface of the Red Planet is a cold, barren wasteland. Michael Irving, New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2024 What remained was a flattened wasteland of scattered cinder blocks, twisted rebar, and slabs of concrete jutting out of debris at awkward angles. Rania Abouzeid, The New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2024 Entire families have been erased, with many neighborhoods reduced to wastelands of thick sewage pools. Abeer Salman, CNN, 19 Oct. 2024 Retail almost seems like a wasteland except for Walmart and perhaps Club name Costco . Jim Cramer, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for wasteland 

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of wasteland was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near wasteland

Cite this Entry

“Wasteland.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wasteland. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

wasteland

noun
waste·​land ˈwāst-ˌland How to pronounce wasteland (audio)
1
: land that is not cultivated or not fit for the cultivation of crops
2
: an ugly often ruined place or area

More from Merriam-Webster on wasteland

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