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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of desolation
Even beyond the pulsing techno soundtrack and the majestic desolation of the landscape, Sirât (the title referring to the Islamic term for the razor-thin bridge between heaven and hell) creates a sensory experience of audacity and shock that touches the sublime.
—
Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2025
Netanyahu reset the war clock, and erased the calendar of desolation.
—Orly Halpern, Time, 18 June 2025
She’s found the desolation isn’t limited to Grand Central Market.
—Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2025
Visit the Less-Trafficked Side While the oceanside of Jockey’s Ridge’s claim to fame is the dunes, which mimic the desolation of the desert, the Roanoke Sound border of the park on the western side is just the opposite.
—Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for desolation
Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2025
Netanyahu reset the war clock, and erased the calendar of desolation.
—Orly Halpern, Time, 18 June 2025
She’s found the desolation isn’t limited to Grand Central Market.
—Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2025
Visit the Less-Trafficked Side While the oceanside of Jockey’s Ridge’s claim to fame is the dunes, which mimic the desolation of the desert, the Roanoke Sound border of the park on the western side is just the opposite.
—Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for desolation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desolation
Noun
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Julianne cited her sisters' accomplishments in their own fields, as well as their flourishing personal lives, as a reason why the sadness never flowered into full-on resentment.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Sep. 2025
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Shock, anger, sadness, disbelief were words used by multiple senior sources inside the West Wing, ABC News' Katherine Faulders said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Husband Jeff, meanwhile, stuck to his own formula of chinos, polos, and brown desert boots.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
13 Sep. 2025
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Deadline’s deep dive on Desert Warrior last October revealed how the film encountered issues after its grueling 2021 shoot in the Saudi desert.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The hotel fell into some level of disrepair as the prior ownership group was preoccupied with three court proceedings that were filed in an attempt to retain control of the property, according to BrightSpire.—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
10 Sep. 2025
-
The problem is especially acute in cities like Philadelphia, where many school buildings are over 70 years old and in disrepair.—
Ana Santos Rutschman,
The Conversation,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Rosie O'Donnell recalled her devastation over how her friendship with Ellen DeGeneres fell apart more than 20 years ago.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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Indeed, moves toward open Saudi diplomatic recognition of Israel were stopped by Hamas’ attack and the global backlash that followed Israel’s ongoing devastation of Gaza.—
David Mednicoff,
The Conversation,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Lacy’s new music maintains his sly sense of humor, but with a barefaced melancholy that pushes it to new emotional depths.—
Jeff Ihaza,
Rolling Stone,
14 Aug. 2025
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More often than not, the film’s nostalgia is sweet and enjoyable because it is paired with the melancholy that comes from all the acknowledgments of the actors from the original who died over the last 29 years.—
Jesse David Fox,
Vulture,
30 July 2025
Noun
-
Critical wildlife habitat may be put at risk for alteration or wholesale destruction.—
Ryan Gellert,
Time,
9 Sep. 2025
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But tenants have little legal footing to stand on in combating that destruction.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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In addition, people may experience anxiety or depression related to summer's end and the return to school and work routines, Prism Medical Products says.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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The Browns are a virus for seasonal depression.—
Jason Lloyd,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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While not all of the federal government’s tariff revenue is at risk, losing a huge chunk would still create havoc on the deficit and bond market.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
7 Sep. 2025
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Steve gently coaxes him back to school, where the film crew is causing havoc.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Desolation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desolation. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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