What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
desert
Example
The Sahara desert is the largest hot desert in the world. [desert: noun]
Example
The soldiers were left to desert in the middle of the night. [desert: verb]
barren
Example
The barren landscape was devoid of any signs of life. [barren: adjective]
Example
The writer's mind felt barren of ideas for a new story. [barren: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Barren is more commonly used than desert in everyday language. Barren is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while desert is less common and refers to a specific type of environment.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between desert and barren?
Both desert and barren can be used in formal and informal contexts, but desert may be more commonly used in scientific or technical writing due to its specificity to a particular type of environment.
