Desolation
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3
Aftermath Imagery
Use 'desolation' to describe the aftermath of disasters, emphasizing visuals of emptiness. The forest fire left nothing but a landscape of desolation.
Pro Tip 2/3
Not Just Physical
'Desolation' may also refer to feeling emotionally empty or hollow. She stared at the vacant lot, feeling an inner desolation.
Pro Tip 3/3
Intensity
'Complete' or 'utter' often intensify 'desolation'. The word suggests an extreme state. A once bustling mall now stood in utter desolation.