Desert — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective verb /ˈde-zərt/ (noun) /di-ˈzərt/ (verb) des·ert

Meaning & Definition of Desert

Desert (noun)

  1. arid land with usually sparse vegetation; especially, such land having a very warm climate and receiving less than 25 centimeters (10 inches) of sporadic rainfall annually
  2. an area of water with too few nutrients to support abundant life
  3. a place or area that does not have something interesting or important
  4. deserved reward or punishment —usually used in phrases like get one's just deserts
  5. the quality or fact of meriting reward or punishment
  6. excellence, worth

Desert (adjective)

  1. remote and uninhabited or only sparsely inhabited
  2. of or relating to a desert
  3. forsaken

Desert (verb)

  1. to withdraw from or leave usually without intent to return
  2. to leave and stop helping or supporting (someone)
  3. to fail to remain with (someone) in a time of need

Desert (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. land that is uninhabited or not fit for crops

    "we were lost in the desert for days without food"

    similar: barren, desolation, heath, no-man's-land, waste, wasteland
    related: badland, brush, bush, dust bowl, open, open air, outdoors, out-of-doors, nature, wild, wilderness

  2. suffering, loss, or hardship imposed in response to a crime or offense

    "the robbers got their just deserts"

    similar: castigation, chastisement, comeuppance, correction, discipline, nemesis, penalty, punishment, wrath
    related: reprisal, retaliation, retribution, revenge, vengeance, assessment, charge, fine, mulct, example, sentence, confinement, imprisonment, incarceration, condemnation, damnation, denouncement, censure, criticism, rebuke, reprimand, reproof
    near: amnesty, indemnity, pardon, parole, acquittal, exculpation, exoneration, vindication, exemption, immunity, impunity, release, commutation, reprieve, absolution, forgiveness, remission, remitment, condonation, disregard, overlooking

Desert (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

    similar: defect (from), rat (on), go back on, jump ship, run out on, walk out on
    related: abandon, abdicate, abjure, apostatize, cut off, disown, forsake, quit, reject, renounce, repudiate, spurn, renege, depart, go, leave, withdraw
    near: adhere (to), cling (to), stick (to or with), cherish, cultivate, foster

  2. to cause to remain behind

    "deserted the kids at the food court for some independent shopping"

    similar: abandon, forsake, leave, maroon, quit, strand, walk away from, walk out on
    related: discard, ditch, dump, fling, jettison, junk, scrap, shed, shuck (off), throw away, throw out, deliver, give up, hand over, relinquish, surrender, yield, escape, retreat (from), take off (from), vacate, withdraw (from), abjure, cut off, disown, reject, renounce, repudiate, separate (from), sacrifice, distance, disregard, forget, ignore, neglect
    opposite: reclaim
    near: harbor, have, hold, keep, own, possess, reserve, retain, withhold, redeem, rescue, save

Desert (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in dry, arid

    similar: arid, droughty, dry, rainless, sere, thirsty, waterless, bankrupted, consumed, debilitated, depleted, diminished, drained, dried-up, enfeebled, exhausted, expended, lessened, reduced, spent, used up, baked, dehydrated, parched, sunbaked, uncultivable, untillable, bleak, inhospitable, lifeless, barren, bony, dead, desolate, hardscrabble, impoverished, infertile, poor, stark, unfertile, unproductive, waste
    opposite: fertile, fruitful, lush, luxuriant, productive, rich, arable, tillable, green, sylvan, verdant

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Desert

The most common words with a similar meaning to Desert:

barren, desolation, heath, no-man's-land, waste, wasteland, castigation, chastisement, comeuppance, correction, discipline, nemesis, penalty, punishment, wrath, defect (from), rat (on), abandon, forsake, leave, maroon, quit, strand, go back on, jump ship, run out on, walk out on, walk away from, arid, droughty, dry, rainless, sere, thirsty, waterless, bankrupted, consumed, debilitated, depleted, diminished

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Desert

Words with the opposite meaning of Desert:

reclaim, fertile, fruitful, lush, luxuriant, productive, rich, arable, tillable, green, sylvan, verdant

Related Words for Desert

badland, brush, bush, dust bowl, open, open air, outdoors, out-of-doors, nature, wild, wilderness, reprisal, retaliation, retribution, revenge, vengeance, assessment, charge, fine, mulct, example, sentence, confinement, imprisonment, incarceration, condemnation, damnation, denouncement, censure, criticism

Near Antonyms of Desert

amnesty, indemnity, pardon, parole, acquittal, exculpation, exoneration, vindication, exemption, immunity, impunity, release, commutation, reprieve, absolution, forgiveness, remission, remitment, condonation, disregard, overlooking, adhere (to), cling (to), stick (to or with), cherish, cultivate, foster, harbor, have, hold

Word Forms of Desert

Inflections: deserted, deserting, deserts

Derived words: desertic (adjective), desertlike (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Desert

Middle English, "barren expanse of land (either wooded or arid), wasteland," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin dēserta "unfrequented places, wilderness," noun derivative from neuter plural (feminine singular in Late Latin) of dēsertus "empty of people, uninhabited" desert:2

First known use: 13th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Desert

Words & Phrases Containing Desert

desert locust, desert soil, desert tortoise, desert varnish, desert island, food desert

Frequently Asked Questions about Desert

What does "Desert" mean?

"Desert" means arid land with usually sparse vegetation; especially, such land having a very warm climate and receiving less than 25 centimeters (10 inches) of sporadic rainfall annually. As an a noun, an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: arid land with usually sparse vegetation; especially, such land having a very warm climate and receiving less than 25 centimeters (10 inches) of sporadic rainfall annually. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Desert"?

Other words for "Desert" include barren, desolation, heath, no-man's-land, waste, wasteland, castigation and chastisement. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Desert" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Desert"?

There are 143 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Desert". Common alternatives include barren, desolation, heath, no-man's-land, waste, wasteland, castigation, chastisement, comeuppance and correction.

What is the opposite of "Desert"?

Antonyms of "Desert" include reclaim, fertile, fruitful, lush, luxuriant, productive, rich and arable. Near antonyms include amnesty, indemnity, pardon and parole.

How do you use "Desert" in a sentence?

Examples of "Desert" in a sentence: "we were lost in the desert for days without food"; "the robbers got their just deserts"; "the volunteer became disillusioned with his candidate and deserted to a political rival".

Is "Desert" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Desert" can be used as a noun, an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Desert" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Desert" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

How do you pronounce "Desert"?

"Desert" is pronounced /ˈde-zərt/ as a noun and /di-ˈzərt/ as a verb and divided into syllables as des·ert.