desolate

Empty of people, with nobody living there.

• They reached a desolate village.
• The island was desolate after everyone left.
• We walked through desolate streets without seeing anyone.

Similar words: deserted, uninhabited

Opposites: inhabited

Common phrases: desolate village, desolate island, desolate streets

Having almost no plants, animals, or other living things.

• Nothing grew on the desolate plain.
• They crossed a desolate landscape of rock and sand.
• The hillside looked desolate without any trees or grass.

Similar words: barren, lifeless

Opposites: fertile, lush

Common phrases: desolate landscape, desolate wasteland, desolate plain

Looking empty, sad, and unpleasant.

• The empty park looked desolate.
• Rain made the railway station seem desolate.
• A cold wind swept across the desolate scene.

Similar words: bleak, dreary, dismal

Opposites: cheerful

Common phrases: desolate scene, desolate view, look desolate

Feeling extremely sad, lonely, and without hope.

• She felt desolate after he left.
• His death left the family desolate.
• Even among friends, he remained utterly desolate.

Similar words: heartbroken, forlorn, hopeless

Common phrases: feel desolate, desolate heart, utterly desolate

So badly damaged or neglected that people cannot live there or use it.

• The house stood desolate after the fire.
• War had left the town desolate.
• They found only desolate buildings with collapsed roofs.

Similar words: ruined, devastated

Common phrases: desolate ruins, desolate house, desolate town

To destroy a place or damage it very badly.

• War desolated the valley.
• The invading army desolated several villages.
• A great fire had desolated the once prosperous city.

Similar words: devastate, ravage, lay waste to

Common phrases: desolate a city, desolate the land

To make someone feel extremely sad, lonely, and without hope.

• The news desolated her.
• His sudden departure desolated the whole family.
• Years of loss had desolated her heart.

Similar words: devastate, break someone’s heart

Common phrases: desolate someone’s heart, desolate someone utterly

To leave a place or thing behind and stop caring for it.

• The settlers desolated their homes and departed.
• Worshippers had desolated the old shrine.
• The villagers desolated the settlement when the wells ran dry.

Similar words: abandon, forsake

Common phrases: desolate a home, desolate a shrine