desolation

noun
UK: /ˌdes.əˈleɪ.ʃən/
US: /ˌdes.əˈleɪ.ʃən/

  1. The state of being empty and without people, making you feel very sad.

    1. The town's desolation was hard to ignore after the factory closed.
    2. Looking at the empty playground, I felt a deep sense of desolation overcome me.

  2. A feeling of great unhappiness or hopelessness.

    1. She felt desolation after her cat ran away.
    2. The novel explores themes of loss and desolation in a war-torn country.

  3. A place that is empty and provides no pleasant conditions, especially because of damage or poverty.

    1. The earthquake left the area in complete desolation.
    2. We drove through miles of desolation, seeing nothing but scorched earth and broken trees.

Synonyms

grief sorrow

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "desolation" in English means: The state of being empty and without people, making you feel very sad., A feeling of great unhappiness or hopelessness., A place that is empty and provides no pleasant conditions, especially because of damage or poverty..

The phonetic transcription of "desolation" is /ˌdes.əˈleɪ.ʃən/ in British English and /ˌdes.əˈleɪ.ʃən/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "desolation": grief, sorrow.

Example usage of "desolation": "The town's desolation was hard to ignore after the factory closed.". More examples on the page.