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desolate Definition

deso·late (desə lit; for v., -lāt′)

adjective

  1. left alone; lonely; solitary
  2. uninhabited; deserted
  3. made uninhabitable; laid waste; in a ruinous state
  4. forlorn; wretched

Etymology: ME desolat < L desolatus, pp. of desolare, to leave alone, forsake, strip of inhabitants < de-, intens. + solare, to make lonely < solus, sole

transitive verb -·lat′ed, -·lat′·ing

  1. to make desolate; rid of inhabitants
  2. to make uninhabitable; lay waste; devastate
  3. to forsake; abandon
  4. to make forlorn, wretched, etc.

Etymology: ME desolaten < the adj.

desolate Related Forms

deso·lately adverb deso·late·ness noun deso·la′·tor noun or deso·lat′er

desolate Synonyms

desolate

modif.

  1. Left unused

    deserted, forsaken, uninhabited, laid waste; see abandoned 1, bleak 1, isolated.

  2. Gloomy

    forlorn, downcast, melancholy, dolorous; see dismal 1, sad 1.

desolate Usage Examples

Modifying Another Word

  • utterly: The position on 5/11 was an utterly desolate desert, many miles from any obvious water or habitation.
  • rather: The finish was at this rather desolate pub in the middle of nowhere again.
  • so: What can have made so desolate What was last night so very fair?
  • very: How very desolate must that one be, Whose more than grave has not a memory!
  • now: Gathering together a reconnaissance team, MacReady investigates the now desolate Norwegian camp to ascertain the source of their madness.
  • not: The feeling is not desolate, but promises impending revelation.

Adjective complement with noun phrase

  • lay: Thus the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through nor returned: for they laid the pleasant land desolate.
  • make: This will make many peole desolate and depressed at a time they need to see their loved ones daily.

Modifies a noun

  • wasteland: Then it became a desolate wasteland except for some grazing sheep.
  • moor: On a desolate moor, lies Falcon's Keep.
  • wilderness: On the other side an equally desolate wilderness is bounded only by the distant Red Sea.
  • moorland: Once on top of the hills, the road crosses desolate moorland at a height of about 1,500ft.
  • landscape: The Festival was sited on the desolate landscape of the former Princes Dock, Govan on the south bank of the Clyde.
  • valley: Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice.

Used with adjective complement

  • lie: Because of My house which lies desolate while each of you runs to his own house.
  • lay: In an incredibly short time the circle of flourishing cities was destroyed or laid desolate.
  • feel: He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide the future from me.
  • leave: Babylon will be left desolate without a single inhabitant.
  • become: The temple is torn down, the city becomes desolate, the Messiah comes in His glory.
  • look: Wilson said kindly: " Why, my boy, you look desolate.

Browse dictionary entries near desolate

  1. Desmoulins
  2. desmosome
  3. desmoid
  4. desmid
  5. desman
  6. desktop publishing
  7. desktop
  8. deskman
  9. desk
  10. desist
  1. desolation
  2. desorb
  3. despair
  4. despair of
  5. despairing
  6. despatch
  7. desperado
  8. desperate
  9. desperately
  10. desperation