1
as in sadness
a state or spell of low spirits
his desolation after his twin brother died was incurable
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of desolation
Forgetting Abraham Lincoln Sarah Browne’s neglect of Lincoln, compared with the ceaseless remembrance of her daughter, did not lessen her desolation over the assassination.
—
JSTOR Daily, 15 Feb. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for desolation
JSTOR Daily, 15 Feb. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for desolation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desolation
Noun
-
The Road to Palmyra After years of violence, Syrians hope to restore the ancient city in the desert.—
The Dial,
The Dial,
10 Apr. 2025
-
According to The Washington Post, Pentagon officials are discussing the possibility of creating a temporary military installation on an existing 60-foot buffer zone that was established in 1907 on federal land for border security in the Southwestern desert.—
Risa Brooks,
Foreign Affairs,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
The woman’s house had been in disrepair before the collapse, WPVI reported.—
Lauren Liebhaber,
Miami Herald,
18 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
After addressing changes in his diet, Williams said, his health and depression became manageable.—
Alli Rosenbloom,
CNN Money,
8 Apr. 2025
-
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
-
Several studies have found that polyphenols, especially tannins, can also play havoc with your iron supplement.—
Fiona Embleton,
Glamour,
18 Mar. 2025
-
The pandemic though wrought havoc on student achievement, with many learning gaps remaining nearly five years after schools first closed.—
Cory Turner,
NPR,
5 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
An 11-3 Opening Day loss in Baltimore didn’t define the Angels last year.—
Sam Blum,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
-
The three primary threats to pollinators are habitat loss, pesticide use and climate change, Cornelisse said.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin had an emotional meeting with a pair of dire wolves, but many fans have shared the same unimpressed response, not quite able to believe a species was brought back from extinction before Martin finished the next book in his A Song of Ice and Fire series.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Apr. 2025
-
As the Earth's climate cooled and the oceans' ecosystems changed, Megalodon may have struggled to find sufficient food, leading to its extinction.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Desolation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desolation. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share