Desolation
/ˌdɛzəˈleɪʃən/
Definitions
A state of being deserted, empty, or ruined; the act of making something desolate.
/ˌdɛzəˈleɪʃən/
A state of complete emptiness or destruction.
The earthquake left the city in utter desolation.
💡 Simply: Imagine your favorite park after a huge storm. All the trees are knocked down, and there's trash everywhere. That's desolation! It's a super sad feeling because everything is destroyed and empty. Like when you lose your favorite toy.
👶 For kids: Desolation means something is empty, ruined, and sad. Like a place that used to be fun but now is broken.
More Examples
The painting captured the desolation of the abandoned farm.
She felt a sense of desolation after her friend moved away.
How It's Used
"The poem describes the desolation of a war-torn landscape."
"The environmental impact assessment highlighted the desolation caused by deforestation."
"After losing his job and his home, he felt the desolation of loneliness and despair."
Idioms & expressions
desolate landscape
A place that is empty and looks ruined or damaged.
"The storm left a desolate landscape in its wake."
sense of desolation
A feeling of sadness, loss, and emptiness.
"After the death of her pet, she felt a deep sense of desolation."
From Latin *desolationem* (nominative *desolatio*) meaning 'a laying waste, devastation', from *desolare* meaning 'to abandon, forsake, lay waste'.
The word 'desolation' has been used since the 14th century to describe a state of ruin or being forsaken, often in a religious or moral context.
Memory tip
Think of a desert island - desolate and empty.
Practice
Word Origin
Root: desolare