desolation

[des-uh-ley-shuhn]

desolation Definition

  • 1a state of complete emptiness or destruction
  • 2loneliness and sadness that comes from feeling abandoned

Using desolation: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "desolation" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

  • Example

    The town was left in desolation after the hurricane.

  • Example

    The desolation of the landscape was overwhelming.

  • Example

    She felt a sense of desolation after her best friend moved away.

  • Example

    The war had brought desolation to the region.

desolation Synonyms and Antonyms

Antonyms for desolation

Phrases with desolation

  • a state of extreme loneliness and sadness

    Example

    After her husband's death, she felt a howling desolation that seemed impossible to overcome.

  • a place or situation characterized by loneliness, despair, and hopelessness

    Example

    The homeless shelter was like a desolation row, with people sleeping on the floor and no hope for a better future.

  • a loud expression of grief and sadness

    Example

    The mother's cry of desolation could be heard throughout the hospital when she learned her son had died.

Origins of desolation

from Latin 'desolatus', meaning 'abandoned'

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Summary: desolation in Brief

Desolation [des-uh-ley-shuhn] refers to a state of emptiness, destruction, and loneliness. It can describe physical landscapes, as in 'The town was left in desolation after the hurricane,' or emotional states, as in 'She felt a sense of desolation after her best friend moved away.' Synonyms include 'devastation' and 'ruin,' while antonyms are 'prosperity' and 'fertility.'

How do native speakers use this expression?