Words / B2

DES-uh-l-uh-t/ˈdesələt/

Desolate means empty and bleak, or extremely lonely: a desolate high street; feel desolate. Deserted is close for empty places (desert the verb vs dessert the sweet — already taught elsewhere). Bleak is close. The closed high street looked desolate. Do not call a busy station desolate.

Meaning

Empty of people and bleak; also extremely lonely and unhappy.

Examples

• “The closed high street looked desolate after the last bank left.”
• “He felt desolate after the rejection, which is the emotional sense.”

Good to know

a desolate landscape / town; feel desolate. Close (places): deserted / bleak. Mix-up: desert / dessert. Features and novels. Stronger than quiet.

Near in meaning

bleak

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