DESERT Synonyms: 195 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'desert' contrast with its synonyms?

The words abandon and forsake are common synonyms of desert . While all three words mean "to leave without intending to return," desert implies that the object left may be weakened but not destroyed by one's absence. // a deserted town

Q: Where would 'abandon' be a reasonable alternative to 'desert'?

The words abandon and desert can be used in similar contexts, but abandon suggests that the thing or person left may be helpless without protection. // abandoned children

Q: When would 'forsake' be a good substitute for 'desert'?

The meanings of forsake and desert largely overlap; however, forsake suggests an action more likely to bring impoverishment or bereavement to that which is forsaken than its exposure to physical dangers. // a forsaken lover

desert 1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈde-zərt

Definition of desert next

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

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desert

2 of 4

noun (2)

di-ˈzərt

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

desert

3 of 4

verb

di-ˈzərt

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

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

desert

4 of 4

adjective

as in arid

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb desert contrast with its synonyms?

The words abandon and forsake are common synonyms of desert. While all three words mean "to leave without intending to return," desert implies that the object left may be weakened but not destroyed by one's absence.

a deserted town

Where would abandon be a reasonable alternative to desert?

The words abandon and desert can be used in similar contexts, but abandon suggests that the thing or person left may be helpless without protection.

abandoned children

When would forsake be a good substitute for desert?

The meanings of forsake and desert largely overlap; however, forsake suggests an action more likely to bring impoverishment or bereavement to that which is forsaken than its exposure to physical dangers.

a forsaken lover

Examples of desert in a Sentence

These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

One of the more notable attacks came in late October, when U.S. troops targeted camps in the Syrian desert and several of the group’s senior leaders, killing as many as 35 militants, Central Command said at the time. —

Ellen Mitchell, The Hill, 4 Nov. 2024 In the high desert of New Mexico, a few hours southwest of Albuquerque, is the Very Large Array, or VLA for short. —

Geoffrey Morrison, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024

Verb

Moving from a senatorial debate to a literal battlefield, the phrase's contemporary usage is linked to Communist leader Vladimir Lenin’s description of Russian soldiers deserting the Tsar's army. —

Phil Kirschner, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024 The arrival of Pietro (Giuseppe De Domenico), a taciturn Sicilian soldier who hides out in town after deserting the army, disrupts the dynamics of the local teacher’s family, changing them forever. —

Zac Ntim, Deadline, 24 Oct. 2024

Adjective

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 In non-desert environments, human waste can decompose when buried in soil rich in organic material, according to Kimberly Finch, BLM Utah communications director. —

The Salt Lake Tribune, 21 Sep. 2021 See all Example Sentences for desert

Recent Examples of Synonyms for desert

Verb

The story follows the town doctor, Jack Troy, and his daughter, Ronnie, as they are unexpectedly left to care for a baby abandoned on a doorstep.

Theara Coleman, theweek, 6 Nov. 2024
The cost of the U.S. abandoning its traditional allies could be stark.

Eric Cortellessa, TIME, 5 Nov. 2024