1
as in sadness
a state or spell of low spirits
his desolation after his twin brother died was incurable
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2
3
as in disrepair
the state of being unattended to or not cared for
the desolation of the abandoned garden
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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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of desolation
The story ends with a description of the misery and desolation that Mishima (the character, and, presumably, the author) has felt, his fundamental aloneness.
—
Deborah Treisman, The New Yorker, 27 Oct. 2024
The current conflagration in Myanmar will lead to even more desolation.
—Derek J. Mitchell, Foreign Affairs, 15 Apr. 2021
The air seems pervaded by palpable strains of both sensuality and desolation.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2024
How could the seeming desolation of a Snowball Earth line up with this burst of biological innovation?
—Veronique Greenwood, WIRED, 11 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for desolation 
Deborah Treisman, The New Yorker, 27 Oct. 2024
The current conflagration in Myanmar will lead to even more desolation.
—Derek J. Mitchell, Foreign Affairs, 15 Apr. 2021
The air seems pervaded by palpable strains of both sensuality and desolation.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2024
How could the seeming desolation of a Snowball Earth line up with this burst of biological innovation?
—Veronique Greenwood, WIRED, 11 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for desolation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desolation
Noun
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For a lion accustomed to around-the-clock human care, four days alone in the Arizona desert—subsisting on nothing but sandwiches and water—was an extraordinary feat.Scott Travers, Forbes, 5 Jan. 2025
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Murray has played for two head coaches in the desert.Matt Barrows, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The sign was donated to Los Angeles in 1944, according to the Hollywood Sign Trust, but later fell into disrepair before being restored in the late 1970s.Ty Roush, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
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City Council President Zeke Cohen called upon the city to break its habit of allowing residential buildings to fall into disrepair in the first place.Carson Swick, Baltimore Sun, 8 Jan. 2025
Noun
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When the Padres signed Bogaerts, a major league scout with a neutral team said several baseball folks with the Red Sox felt a sense of melancholy.Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Jan. 2025
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There’s action and scares, but also human melancholy and a deep mystery.Aaron Couch, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Teddy and Andy Leonard, owners of the Reel Inn, confirmed the destruction of their restaurant on Instagram, and stated that all of their restaurant staff were safe.Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2025
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People couldn't believe the destruction that happened in a manner of minutes.Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Healthcare providers report using similar dosages to the treatment of depression for RSD.Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 14 Jan. 2025
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And The Desire For Connection Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a type of depression triggered by changes in the seasons, often begins in the fall and continues through the winter months.Mark Travers, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Given Udoka’s obsession with creating as much defensive havoc as possible, this makes sense.Kelly Iko, The Athletic, 3 Jan. 2025
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Now, as billionaire Trump advisor Elon Musk continues to play havoc with crypto markets, fears have emerged China could have beaten Donald Trump and the U.S. to creating a bitcoin reserve.Billy Bambrough, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, tasked with a review of the potential acquisition, shared concerns about the national security risks posed by the loss of the country's second-largest steel producer.Max Zahn, ABC News, 3 Jan. 2025
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The small and medium-sized enterprises in spinning, weaving, and garment manufacturing operate on thin profit margins, facing income losses and squeezed profitability.Mayu Saini, Sourcing Journal, 2 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Today, their greatest threat is not humans entering their waters but the overfishing, habitat destruction, and climate change that push them closer to the brink of extinction.Melissa Cristina Marquez, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
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More than 40 percent of warm-water, reef-building coral species are at risk of extinction, the International Union for Conservation of Nature revealed this past November.Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Desolation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desolation. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
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