adj
Uncommon
desolate
DEHS-uh-luht
Desolate (adj) means Empty and bleak, with no people or life around; also, extremely sad and without hope. Example: “The desolate landscape stretched for miles without a single tree.”
adj
1
Empty and bleak, with no people or life around; also, extremely sad and without hope.
"The desolate landscape stretched for miles without a single tree."
"She felt utterly desolate after losing her closest friend."
verb
1
To make a place empty of people or life; to devastate.
"The war desolated entire villages along the border."
How to use desolate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEmpty and bleak (a place), or deeply sad and without hope (a person).
Common pairings
a desolate wasteland
feel desolate
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- desolates
- Past tense
- desolated
- Comparative
- more desolate
- Superlative
- most desolate
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ landscape stretched for miles without a single tree.
Etymology
From Latin desolatus, past participle of desolare, "to leave alone, forsake" — from de- + solus ("alone").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for desolate
See all rhymes for desolate →Frequently asked questions
What does “desolate” mean?
The word “desolate” means empty and bleak, with no people or life around; also, extremely sad and without hope. In plain terms, empty and bleak (a place), or deeply sad and without hope (a person).
How do you pronounce “desolate”?
“Desolate” is pronounced DEHS-uh-luht (/ˈdɛs.ə.lət/ in IPA).
How do you use “desolate” in a sentence?
Here is “desolate” used in a sentence: “The desolate landscape stretched for miles without a single tree.”
What part of speech is “desolate”?
Depending on how it is used, “desolate” can be an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “desolate” come from?
The word “desolate” comes from Latin. From Latin desolatus, past participle of desolare, "to leave alone, forsake" — from de- + solus ("alone").
Is “desolate” a common word?
“Desolate” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “desolate” have?
“Desolate” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: empty and bleak, with no people or life around; also, extremely sad and without hope.
