1
as in sadness
a state or spell of low spirits
his desolation after his twin brother died was incurable
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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
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of desolation
Its peaceful stillness and silence can become desolation, and its beautiful bleakness a portent of doom.
—
Jody Mamone, Hartford Courant, 22 Nov. 2024
Tears, joy, pitch invasions, desolation, touching embraces and big, fat celebrations — these are moments when careers can be ended, or made.
—Tim Spiers, The Athletic, 9 July 2024
Her 2001 memoir, A Life’s Work, was savaged by the British press for its frank portrayal of the desolation of early motherhood.
—Andrea Long Chu, Vulture, 28 June 2024
The story ends with a description of the misery and desolation that Mishima (the character, and, presumably, the author) has felt, his fundamental aloneness.
—Deborah Treisman, The New Yorker, 27 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for desolation 
Jody Mamone, Hartford Courant, 22 Nov. 2024
Tears, joy, pitch invasions, desolation, touching embraces and big, fat celebrations — these are moments when careers can be ended, or made.
—Tim Spiers, The Athletic, 9 July 2024
Her 2001 memoir, A Life’s Work, was savaged by the British press for its frank portrayal of the desolation of early motherhood.
—Andrea Long Chu, Vulture, 28 June 2024
The story ends with a description of the misery and desolation that Mishima (the character, and, presumably, the author) has felt, his fundamental aloneness.
—Deborah Treisman, The New Yorker, 27 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for desolation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desolation
Noun
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Camila Alves McConaughey was a desert vision on her recent date with husband Matthew McConaughey.—
Dayna Haffenden,
People.com,
18 Jan. 2025
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The desert city, oasis or hellhole or both, can’t help but bounce back.—
Gary Baum,
The Hollywood Reporter,
18 Jan. 2025
Noun
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For many years, a radical and corrupt establishment has extracted power and wealth from our citizens, while the pillars of our society lay broken and, seemingly, in complete disrepair.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
20 Jan. 2025
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These homes are often in disrepair, and the program requires you to renovate the home at your own expense, but there are grants available.—
Harrison Pierce,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Young American Taylah Sanders (Quintessa Swindell, sparky with a touch of melancholy), is part of a small NSA unit disguised as students on a gap year, sharing a pad in lovely Cassis on the French Mediterranean.—
Robert Lloyd,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Jan. 2025
-
Richard Engel Reporting from Jerusalem In Israel, there is a feeling of melancholy.—
Jennifer Jett,
NBC News,
17 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Israel’s ultimate war goal is the complete destruction of Hamas.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN,
20 Jan. 2025
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Along with this, the enemy's oil refining industry facilities are becoming the objects of our destruction.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
20 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Healthcare providers report using similar dosages to the treatment of depression for RSD.—
Sarah Bence,
Verywell Health,
14 Jan. 2025
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Specifically, The Family Dinner Project reports that, for kids, this practice is linked with better academic performance, higher self-esteem and a lower risk of depression, among other benefits.—
John Mac Ghlionn,
Newsweek,
14 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Eoghan O’Connell’s role in both Shrewsbury goals was high on most culpability lists, as was a distinct lack of creativity in midfield and a failure to pose any kind of threat down the left side when Ryan Barnett was causing havoc down the opposite flank.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
The Athletic,
17 Jan. 2025
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Walker thinks people may now be more receptive to her message, given the devastating wildfires that have wrought havoc on Los Angeles itself the past week.—
Jocelyn Noveck,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Among the many tragic losses families have suffered amid the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles County, an Altadena man’s stands out.—
Josh DuBose,
The Hill,
15 Jan. 2025
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In Bridget Jones: Mad About a Boy, Bridget Jones is reeling after the loss of Mark Darcy (Colin Firth) and navigating life as a single mom.—
Lexy Perez,
The Hollywood Reporter,
15 Jan. 2025
Noun
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What does all this have to do with life today, when big cats are headed toward extinction and meat comes on Styrofoam trays?—
Elizabeth Kolbert,
The New Yorker,
13 Jan. 2025
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For example, the woolly mammoth, the Tasmanian tiger and the dodo were driven to extinction by human activities.—
Yaakov Katz,
Newsweek,
13 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Desolation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desolation. Accessed 27 Jan. 2025.
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