desolation

Language: en

🇺🇸 /ˌdɛsəˈleɪʃən/

📖 Definitions

  1. noun
    A state of complete emptiness, destruction, or ruin; the condition of being laid waste or made uninhabitable.; A feeling of extreme sadness, loneliness, or hopelessness; emotional devastation.; A desolate or barren place; a wasteland.; The act of laying waste or devastating; the process of causing destruction.

🔗 Details

Word forms

uncountable

Collocations

a sense of desolationutter desolationcomplete desolationfeelings of desolationwaste and desolationscene of desolation

Derivatives

desolatedesolatelydesolatenessdesolator

Synonyms

devastationruinbleaknessbarrennessdestructiondespair

Antonyms

comfortjoyprosperityfertility

Commonly confused

isolation
EN: 'Isolation' refers to being alone or separated from others; 'desolation' refers to a state of emptiness, devastation, or profound sadness.
devastation
EN: 'Devastation' emphasizes the act or result of destroying; 'desolation' emphasizes the resulting emptiness and emotional bleakness.

Spelling tips

EN: Do not confuse 'desolation' with 'isolation'—they look similar but have different roots and meanings. Note the 'e' after 'd' and the '-ation' ending.

💬 Examples

  1. The desolation left by the wildfire stretched for miles in every direction.

  2. After her husband's death, she was overcome with a profound sense of desolation.

  3. The explorers crossed a vast desolation of sand and rock before reaching the oasis.

  4. The desolation of the countryside by the invading army was swift and total.