From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishdesolatedes‧o‧late1 /ˈdesələt/ adjective 1 EMPTYa place that is desolate is empty and looks sad because there are no people there a desolate landscape2 SAD/UNHAPPYsomeone who is desolate feels very sad and lonely —desolately adverb —desolation /ˌdesəˈleɪʃən/ noun [uncountable]
Examples from the Corpus
desolate• The little mining town was desolate and ugly.• Radin's body was found in a desolate canyon about 65 miles north of Los Angeles.• One imagines with misgiving the last scene on desolate Eldey.• We looked out over a desolate landscape of bare trees and stony fields.• The desolate quietness was almost painful.• In some of the more desolate regions, half of the active population is out of work.• To people who work outside all day this is one of the most desolate sounds known.• We sat still in the desolate space for several hours before we surmised that evidently we were free to go.• the desolate terrain of the moon• There are stretches of land scattered throughout the United States that have become so desolate they are the stuff of legends.• The bus station was similarly desolate, while the cinema, cultural centre, public baths and a hospital have closed.• But downtown is desolate with empty storefronts.desolatedes‧o‧late2 /ˈdesəleɪt/ verb [transitive] literary SAD/UNHAPPYto make someone feel very sad and lonely SYN devastate David was desolated by his wife’s death.Grammar Desolate is usually passive. —desolated adjectiveExamples from the Corpus
desolate• Lesley-Jane was desolated, but desolated.• Andropulos was desolated by the deaths of his friends.• Drought had desolated the farming town.Origin desolate1 (1300-1400) Latin desolatus, from solus “alone” 