desolate (B1)

adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈdɛsəlɪt/

Definition

Empty, deserted, and bleak; lacking inhabitants or visitors.

Examples

• The old mining town was desolate, with only a few crumbling buildings left.

• He felt desolate after his friends moved away, leaving him all alone.

• The vast, desolate plains stretched out before them under a gray sky.

How to Use desolate

desolate by (prepositional phrase)

To be made to feel empty or miserable by something. — "He felt his hopes desolate by the constant setbacks."

desolate place (collocation)

A location that is empty, deserted, and bleak. — "The remote island was a desolate place, rarely visited by humans."

Synonyms of desolate

Words with a similar meaning to desolate:

• empty
• barren
• forlorn
• bleak

Antonyms of desolate

Words with the opposite meaning to desolate:

• populated
• cheerful
• thriving

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