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Definitions

desert

[dez-ert] / ˈdɛz ərt /
ADJECTIVE
barren, uncultivated
Synonyms
STRONGEST
arid desolate lonely uninhabited
STRONG
bare solitary waste wild
WEAK
infertile sterile unproductive untilled
Antonyms
STRONGEST
inhabited populated
WEAK
cultivated fertile productive
NOUN
wasteland; dry area
Synonyms
STRONGEST
wilderness
STRONG
Sahara barren flats solitude wild wilds
WEAK
arid region badland barren land lava bed sand dunes
Antonyms
WEAK
wetland
VERB
abandon, defect
Synonyms
STRONGEST
betray bolt depart escape flee forsake give up quit vacate
STRONG
abscond apostatize beach chuck decamp duck fly go jilt leave light maroon relinquish renounce resign split strand tergiversate walk
WEAK
bail out check out cop out crawl out go AWOL go back on go over the hill go west leave high and dry leave in the lurch leave stranded opt out play truant pull out run out on sneak off take a hike take off throw over violate oath
Antonyms
STRONGEST
come continue remain stay wait
STRONG
care face hold keep maintain stop
WEAK
aid assist come back help support

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It raised the height of a dam to double its storage, built the desalination plant and acquired rights to a trove of conserved Colorado River water from a desert farming district.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

By Jan. 26, Bovino had been demoted and sent back to his home station in the California desert.

From Salon • Apr. 15, 2026

As for what’s next in the desert, Verma-Lallian is thinking for the long term.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026

Colombian reggaeton star Karol G is set to turn up the heat in the California desert even further on Sunday with a performance capping the Coachella music festival's first weekend.

From Barron's • Apr. 12, 2026

Will this or that tool help you on your long march across a desert?

From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri

Vocabulary lists containing desert

Physical Geography - Introductory

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The American Civil War

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Commonly Confused Words, List 1

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