Desolate and Melancholy

Desolate

Desolate adjective - Causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer.
Usage example: a desolate house abandoned many years ago

Melancholy is a synonym for desolate in miserable topic. In some cases you can use "Melancholy" instead an adjective "Desolate", when it comes to topics like depressed, barren, forlorn, happy.

Nearby Words: desolation, desolately, desolated

Melancholy

Melancholy adjective - Feeling unhappiness.
Usage example: she was a bit melancholy after her youngest child left for college

Desolate is a synonym for melancholy in sad topic. Sometimes you can use "Desolate" instead an adjective "Melancholy", if it concerns topics such as barren, forlorn, happy.

Nearby Words: melancholic, melancholia

Both words in one sentence

  • In general, the trailers have a very melancholy and desolate tone, contrasting sharply with the series itself, which has its sad moments but is generally upbeat and silly, at least until Cerebus Syndrome hits hard in the latter half of Volume 3.
Cite this Source
Melancholy and Desolate. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/desolate/melancholy
Desolate & Melancholy. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/desolate/melancholy>.
Melancholy or Desolate. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/desolate/melancholy.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "desolate" and "melancholy" have occurred on timeline