wasteland
noun
waste·land
ˈwāst-ˌland 
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
The darkly comedic play with music is set in the wasteland of a post-apocalyptic U.K., following the story of Montselier, the last surviving accordionist after civilization’s collapse.
—
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 27 May 2025
The new season will pick up in the aftermath of Season 1’s epic finale, taking viewers on a journey through the wasteland of the Mojave to the post-apocalyptic city of New Vegas.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 12 May 2025
Will slaves not plow the earth beneath the lashing of their masters in these wastelands of man’s primordial independence?
—Jonathon Sturgeon, Harpers Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025
What was once an area of strength for Brazil has become a wasteland: none of the 65 or so options tested since the Qatar World Cup has made a compelling case for a starting spot.
—Jack Lang, New York Times, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for wasteland
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Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 27 May 2025
The new season will pick up in the aftermath of Season 1’s epic finale, taking viewers on a journey through the wasteland of the Mojave to the post-apocalyptic city of New Vegas.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 12 May 2025
Will slaves not plow the earth beneath the lashing of their masters in these wastelands of man’s primordial independence?
—Jonathon Sturgeon, Harpers Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025
What was once an area of strength for Brazil has become a wasteland: none of the 65 or so options tested since the Qatar World Cup has made a compelling case for a starting spot.
—Jack Lang, New York Times, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for wasteland
Cite this Entry
“Wasteland.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wasteland. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
wasteland
noun
waste·land
ˈwāst-ˌland
1
: land that is not cultivated or not fit for the cultivation of crops
2
: an ugly often ruined place or area
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