DESERT Synonyms: 195 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'desert' contrast with its synonyms?

The words abandon and forsake are common synonyms of desert . While all three words mean "to leave without intending to return," desert implies that the object left may be weakened but not destroyed by one's absence. // a deserted town

Q: Where would 'abandon' be a reasonable alternative to 'desert'?

The words abandon and desert can be used in similar contexts, but abandon suggests that the thing or person left may be helpless without protection. // abandoned children

Q: When would 'forsake' be a good substitute for 'desert'?

The meanings of forsake and desert largely overlap; however, forsake suggests an action more likely to bring impoverishment or bereavement to that which is forsaken than its exposure to physical dangers. // a forsaken lover

desert 1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈde-zərt

Definition of desert

as in barren

land that is uninhabited or not fit for crops we were lost in the desert for days without food

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

desert

2 of 4

noun (2)

di-ˈzərt

as in discipline

usually deserts plural suffering, loss, or hardship imposed in response to a crime or offense the robbers got their just deserts

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

desert

3 of 4

verb

di-ˈzərt

as in to abandon

to leave (a cause or party) often in order to take up another the volunteer became disillusioned with his candidate and deserted to a political rival

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to leave

to cause to remain behind deserted the kids at the food court for some independent shopping

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

desert

4 of 4

adjective

as in arid

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb desert contrast with its synonyms?

The words abandon and forsake are common synonyms of desert. While all three words mean "to leave without intending to return," desert implies that the object left may be weakened but not destroyed by one's absence.

a deserted town

Where would abandon be a reasonable alternative to desert?

The words abandon and desert can be used in similar contexts, but abandon suggests that the thing or person left may be helpless without protection.

abandoned children

When would forsake be a good substitute for desert?

The meanings of forsake and desert largely overlap; however, forsake suggests an action more likely to bring impoverishment or bereavement to that which is forsaken than its exposure to physical dangers.

a forsaken lover

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of desert

Noun

According to the annual homeless count, only 671 recreational vehicles remained in the 400 square miles of desert beyond the incorporated cities of Palmdale and Lancaster. — Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026 For the fringe guys under the desert lights, this was the entire universe. — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 28 Aug. 2026

Verb

Beaches near Pensacola, Florida, were mostly deserted except for tourists taking photos of the pounding surf. — ABC News, 22 July 2026 Mbappe wasn’t the worst of France’s attackers and never stopped trying to turn the tide, but his quality deserted him. — Liam Twomey, New York Times, 16 July 2026

Adjective

Elsewhere in California, a mandatory wood-burning ban is in force for the South Coast Air Basin—which includes Orange County and non-desert portions of Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties—until midnight on Saturday. — Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2025 The program includes guided indoor cardio workouts, various levels of drills and interval training, and running trails through the surrounding semi-desert wilderness that range from three to nine miles. — Joe Yogerst, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for desert

Recent Examples of Synonyms for desert

Noun

Supposedly posing a threat to their idyll on the outskirts are various marauding splinter groups running amok through the barren wasteland of the American Mountain West.

— Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 25 Aug. 2026
The 2015 action film, set in a post-apocalyptic desert wasteland, stars Theron as warrior Imperator Furiosa, who leads the daring escape of female prisoners from a tyrannical ruler.

— Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of wasteland

Noun

The university, like campuses nationwide, is barred by federal privacy law from discussing individual discipline cases or internal deliberations, even when a student goes public.

— Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Eisenhower possessed iron discipline, sunny self-confidence and a mind that loved organizational challenges.

— John T. Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of discipline

Verb

Financing expires, talent moves on, and production slates are abandoned.

— Jack Dunn, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
At an event overflowing with seven-figure hypercars and extreme technology, the car that exploded onto social media was one built around ideas that most of the industry has abandoned.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of abandon

Adjective

Our team determined that lakes persisted for millions of years before the climate became arid and sand dunes overtook the lakes, although groundwater occasionally breached the surface to produce streams that wove among the dunes.

— Ashwin R. Vasavada, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026
Since 2022, Dava has turned to hydroponic farming in a plot of land in Al Kharj, an arid area with nutrient-rich soil known for its date palms.

— Taylor Luck, Christian Science Monitor, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of arid

Noun

The new movie follows a benevolent ex-pilot named Hig (Jacob Elordi) who, after losing his wife during a catastrophic global pandemic, lives out in the wilderness with his dog, Jasper, and ornery isolationist pal Bangley (Josh Brolin).

— Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
The test may have started as a wild marketing idea, but after five hours of searching through the Swedish wilderness, the team had the intact phone to prove it.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of wilderness

Verb

The Athletic reported on Monday that all parties have now been in direct communication to confirm the deal is off after City’s bid of an initial £75m and £5m in add-ons was rejected.

— The Athletic UK Staff, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Palal also rejected the defense’s contention that Davis fabricated his accounts to make money.

— Jonathan Landrum Jr, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of reject

Browse Nearby Words

desensitized

desert

deserted

See all Nearby Words

Articles Related to desert

Cite this Entry

Style

“Desert.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desert. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of desert

noun (1)

noun (2)

verb

adjective

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Commonly Confused Words Quiz Vol. 2

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

'Just Deserts' or 'Just Desserts'?

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on desert

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

conscientious

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes