1
as in sadness
a state or spell of low spirits
his desolation after his twin brother died was incurable
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in disrepair
the state of being unattended to or not cared for
the desolation of the abandoned garden
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of desolation
How will the last cockeyed optimist in popular culture deal with the desolation of a husband’s death?
—
Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2025
Wildfires in the Los Angeles area still burn, but the desolation has already left 10 dead and more than 10,000 structures destroyed.
—Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2025
But Joao Felix, whose miss means Portugal are out, is a picture of desolation — hands on head, shirt in mouth.
—Tim Spiers, The Athletic, 9 July 2024
Drama, comedy, romance, elation and desolation are all fluidly threaded into the story, as are tunes that range from humorous numbers to intimate expressions of solitude to rousing reaffirmations of solidarity in challenging circumstances.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for desolation
Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2025
Wildfires in the Los Angeles area still burn, but the desolation has already left 10 dead and more than 10,000 structures destroyed.
—Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2025
But Joao Felix, whose miss means Portugal are out, is a picture of desolation — hands on head, shirt in mouth.
—Tim Spiers, The Athletic, 9 July 2024
Drama, comedy, romance, elation and desolation are all fluidly threaded into the story, as are tunes that range from humorous numbers to intimate expressions of solitude to rousing reaffirmations of solidarity in challenging circumstances.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for desolation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desolation
Noun
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In addition, strong winds over desert areas could result in briefly lowered visibilities to well under a mile at times in blowing dust or blowing sand.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
31 Mar. 2025
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That's not to say that all planets that pass through the hot Neptune desert lose their gaseous envelopes in this same way.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
31 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Built in 1957, the current building is in disrepair, but North Chicago School District 187 Superintendent John Price said the test scores there are the best in the district.—
Steve Sadin,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Mar. 2025
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The woman’s house had been in disrepair before the collapse, WPVI reported.—
Lauren Liebhaber,
Miami Herald,
18 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Watching Thief, yes, we’re naturally mesmerized by its nocturnal compositions, its lovely sense of melancholy, its almost abstract robbery sequences filled with sparks and flames bursting off steel vaults.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
27 Mar. 2025
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Japanese Breakfast's Michelle Zauner embraces melancholy in new album The music of the indie rock band Japanese Breakfast is suffused with longing.—
NPR Staff,
NPR,
22 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The path of destruction stretched about 11 miles in the city outside Tulsa, and radar indicated a possible tornado had formed, according to a statement from city government.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2025
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On March 28, an individual who had been missing since Helene's destruction was found and identified as 66-year-old Russell Wilber, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services confirmed on Wednesday.—
Megan Forrester,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2025
Noun
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After addressing changes in his diet, Williams said, his health and depression became manageable.—
Alli Rosenbloom,
CNN Money,
8 Apr. 2025
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The series builds a lot of sympathy for the showcased players, especially Duran, who is uncomfortably open recalling the pressure his father — who admits to some regrets as well — put on him and talking about his struggles with depression.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The Artist Known as Muse is here to wreak some bloody havoc.—
Matt Webb Mitovich,
TVLine,
21 Mar. 2025
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The outbreak is forecasted across the central Gulf Coast, Deep South and the Tennessee Valley with some tornadoes spanning long and possibly causing havoc, according to the National Weather Service.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA TODAY,
14 Mar. 2025
Noun
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An 11-3 Opening Day loss in Baltimore didn’t define the Angels last year.—
Sam Blum,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
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The three primary threats to pollinators are habitat loss, pesticide use and climate change, Cornelisse said.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Probably the most familiar are humpback and blue whales, which were driven to the brink of extinction not so long ago by commercial whaling, but are making a comeback after an international moratorium was enacted on whaling.—
GrrlScientist,
Forbes.com,
27 Mar. 2025
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The Gardens That Save Species (Yale Environment 360) by Janet Marinelli With many plant species at risk of extinction, botanic garden collections scattered around the world offer hope of survival.—
The Editors,
JSTOR Daily,
25 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Desolation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desolation. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.
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