desolate

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.

PHOENIX—On a desolate stretch of land dotted with cactuses some 30 minutes north of Phoenix, more than 30 cranes tower over a construction site 2½ times the size of New York City’s Central Park.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 24, 2026

The 36-year-old must constantly scan the desolate, drought-ravaged terrain for loose wires and suspicious debris.

From Barron's • Feb. 19, 2026

In January, when the Eaton and Palisades fires broke out, the shop was desolate for around a month.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 8, 2025

Or your favorite vacation spot might be the perfect beach town in the summer, but desolate and lonely in the winter.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 29, 2025

The ship looked desolate there upon her side, with no one on her decks, and her thin black funnel pointing to the shore.

From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier