as in barren
land that is uninhabited or not fit for crops
we were lost in the desert for days without food
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in discipline
usually deserts plural
suffering, loss, or hardship imposed in response to a crime or offense
the robbers got their just deserts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to abandon
to leave (a cause or party) often in order to take up another
the volunteer became disillusioned with his candidate and deserted to a political rival
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to leave
to cause to remain behind
deserted the kids at the food court for some independent shopping
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in arid
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of desert
Larry Dablemont, Outdoor Life, 5 Mar. 2025
Head to Soldier Meadows Hot Springs for a hot tub with a desert view.
—Graham Averill, Outside Online, 3 Mar. 2025
Jacey Fortin, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2025
But take their eye off the league and momentum will desert them, which would not represent ideal preparation for facing Arne Slot’s team at Wembley.
—George Caulkin, The Athletic, 15 Feb. 2025
Mare Czinar, The Arizona Republic, 15 Sep. 2022
Construction of the mega-project is expected to start in earnest in the Karoo, a semi-desert natural region of the country, in 2022.
—Conrad Onyango, Quartz, 1 Feb. 2022
See All Example Sentences for desert
Noun
The beautiful forested ridge is now an ugly scar, a desert of stumps and slash.
—Larry Dablemont, Outdoor Life, 5 Mar. 2025
Head to Soldier Meadows Hot Springs for a hot tub with a desert view.
—Graham Averill, Outside Online, 3 Mar. 2025
Verb
During the Civil War, both Union and Confederate troops used firing squads to kill deserting soldiers.
—Jacey Fortin, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2025
But take their eye off the league and momentum will desert them, which would not represent ideal preparation for facing Arne Slot’s team at Wembley.
—George Caulkin, The Athletic, 15 Feb. 2025
Adjective
Nor do the sunbaked, semi-desert grasslands of Prescott National Forest south of Camp Verde look like the kind of place the wispy, water-loving trees would thrive.
—Mare Czinar, The Arizona Republic, 15 Sep. 2022
Construction of the mega-project is expected to start in earnest in the Karoo, a semi-desert natural region of the country, in 2022.
—Conrad Onyango, Quartz, 1 Feb. 2022
See All Example Sentences for desert
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desert
Verb
-
High in the thin Alaskan air, where abundant oxygen had long abandoned such firmaments for lower altitude, five women knelt circled against the piercing cold.—
Cassidy Randall,
Forbes,
6 Mar. 2025
-
The suspension of programs supporting the promotion of democracy in authoritarian countries, a bipartisan U.S. foreign policy for decades, has left experts wondering if the Trump administration has abandoned that goal.—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
6 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Whereas having a protagonist instantly leads the audience to expect goals, conflict, and character arc, Lund wanted a film about the communal experience of leaving the day-to-day of work, family, and routine behind for a few hours.—
Chris O'Falt,
IndieWire,
7 Mar. 2025
-
So who ended up getting married, and who was left hanging?—
Sydney Bucksbaum,
EW.com,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Satellite imagery captured on March 4, published by NASA showed clouds of dust appearing to originate from arid landscapes in northern Mexico and West Texas.—
Tommy Tuberville,
Newsweek,
6 Mar. 2025
-
When hiking or driving through the park, keep an eye out for all of the amazing wildlife that live in this high-elevation, arid ecosystem—just don’t feed them.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
2 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
While some states complied and the NCAA revised its own trans athlete policy, states like Minnesota have rejected changes to their policies.—
Scott Thompson,
Fox News,
7 Mar. 2025
-
Focusing on personal strengths, practicing self-compassion and challenging negative self-perceptions can help alleviate beliefs that you are bound to be rejected or hurt by others.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
For a shine boost: A spritz of diluted vinegar wiped with a dry microfiber cloth.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
7 Mar. 2025
-
Nylon and polyester are two of the most popular raincoat fabrics, which are effective at wicking away moisture and keeping you dry.—
BestReviews,
The Mercury News,
7 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
But that means patients don’t have the usual right of a trial participant to withdraw from a study at any time, Johnson notes.—
Amber Dance,
Smithsonian Magazine,
7 Mar. 2025
-
At the event, Mills publicly refused to comply with Trump’s executive order against trans youth in school sports, which threatens to withdraw federal funding from states that maintain inclusive policies.—
Samantha Riedel,
Them,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
While urban areas like Los Angeles are under mandatory drought restrictions to reduce strain on state reservoirs, many rural residents reliant on groundwater wells are waterless.—
Tribune Content Agency,
oregonlive,
27 Nov. 2022
-
Other eco-friendly measures include a solid waste incinerator to turn waste into non-toxic ash and a waterless urinal to reduce unnecessary usage.—
Camille Fine,
USA TODAY,
22 Aug. 2022
Adjective
-
On the other hand, some users were just straight up thirsty right along with Moore.—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
4 Mar. 2025
-
This argument echoes Noakes’s critique of hydration research, which was that studies didn’t distinguish between being dehydrated and feeling thirsty.—
Alex Hutchinson,
Outside Online,
3 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Desert.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desert. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.
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