Desolate
Shut mill towns, 2 a.m. bus stands with one flickering tube light, and emptied hostels after break all wear this adjective of sad emptiness.
Learn This WordMeaning
Empty and bleak in feeling.
Memory trick
DESOLATE = DE (fully) + SOL (alone, solo): completely on your own.
Examples
A desolate platform waited.
The desolate bus stand at 2 a.m. had one flickering tube light and zero buses.
After the factory shut, the township felt desolate for months.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
From Latin desolare "to abandon, leave lonely," from de- "completely" + solus "alone." Utterly alone, place and person both.
Usage Notes
Emptiness that feels sad: platforms, landscapes, and moods turn desolate. As a verb (DES-o-late) it means to lay waste.
Real-life contexts
Use in description: "The beach looks desolate in monsoon."
Use in stories: "He returned to a desolate hostel after break."
Use in essays: "Mined hillsides lie desolate for decades."
Common Mistakes
Desolate is bleak emptiness, not mere quiet; a silent library is peaceful, a shut mill town is desolate. Adjective DES-uh-lut, verb DES-uh-layt.
Master This Word
Add "desolate" to your vocabulary and practice with AI & smart flashcards!
Start LearningQuick Facts
Part of Speech
adjective
Difficulty
intermediateMonthly Searches
~26,000