deserted
5 synonyms and 0 antonyms for deserted, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Empty of people; abandoned.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use deserted
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Frequently asked questions
What does “deserted” mean?
The word “deserted” means empty of people; abandoned. In plain terms, left empty — no people around.
How do you pronounce “deserted”?
“Deserted” is pronounced dih-ZUR-tihd (/dəˈzɜɹtəd/ in IPA).
How do you use “deserted” in a sentence?
Here is “deserted” used in a sentence: “The streets were completely deserted at 3am.”
What part of speech is “deserted”?
“Deserted” is an adjective.
Is “deserted” a common word?
“Deserted” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is the difference between "deserted" and "abandoned"?
"Deserted" simply describes a place as empty of people at a given moment, such as a street at night, without implying anything about its long-term future. "Abandoned" more strongly suggests that something has been permanently given up or left behind, like an abandoned building left to decay. A place can be temporarily deserted (a beach in winter) without being abandoned.
Can "deserted" describe a person as well as a place?
Yes, "deserted" can describe a person who has been left behind by someone who was expected to stay, such as a deserted spouse or a deserted child. In this use it comes from the verb "desert," meaning to leave someone without support, rather than from describing an empty location.
What kinds of nouns commonly follow "deserted" in everyday writing?
"Deserted" typically pairs with places and settings, such as a deserted street, town, island, house, or road. These collocations all describe locations that are noticeably empty of the people usually expected to be there.