Desolation
noun /ˌdes.əˈleɪ.ʃən/ — A state of complete emptiness and loneliness
Definition
A state of complete emptiness, loneliness, and bleak misery — either of a place (barren, uninhabited) or of a person (profoundly lonely and bereft of comfort).
Beyond the definition
The landscape of grief. Desolation is the emotional equivalent of a wasteland — emptiness that extends in every direction, with no shelter and nothing growing. It is loss that has become the entire environment.
Origin & history
From Latin 'desolatio' (abandonment) — from 'desolare' (to abandon) — 'de' (completely) + 'solus' (alone). To make completely alone. Related to 'solitude' but without its peace.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The desolation after the funeral lasted six months — not sadness exactly, but a grey emptiness in which ordinary things had lost their meaning.
There is a particular desolation in spaces that were built for people but have been emptied of them — airports at 3am, schools on weekends.
Her desolation was private — she had learned to appear fine before the worst of it had passed.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Desolation” when the meaning fits your context: A state of complete emptiness, loneliness, and bleak misery — either of a place (barren, uninhabited) or of a person (profoundly lonely and bereft of comfort).
Synonyms
bleakness, emptiness, forlornness, wretchedness, devastation
Antonyms
comfort, company, solace
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Vast Empty Room
An adult sits alone in a minimalist room, with the large window highlighting the bleakness of the empty space.
The starkness of the room and the isolation of the individual illustrate a state of complete loneliness and emptiness, capturing the bleak misery of desolation.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Desolation" mean?
Desolation is noun meaning: A state of complete emptiness and loneliness. A state of complete emptiness, loneliness, and bleak misery — either of a place (barren, uninhabited) or of a person (profoundly lonely and bereft of comfort).
Where does the word "Desolation" come from?
From Latin 'desolatio' (abandonment) — from 'desolare' (to abandon) — 'de' (completely) + 'solus' (alone). To make completely alone. Related to 'solitude' but without its peace.