What is a synonym for desolate?

Here are some synonyms for "desolate", depending on the specific nuance you're trying to convey:

General synonyms:

* Barren

* Bleak

* Empty

* Forlorn

* Lonely

* Stark

* Waste

* Deserted

* Abandoned

* Uninhabited

More specific synonyms:

* For a place: Grim, desolate, arid, desolate, bleak, barren, ruined

* For a person's emotional state: Heartbroken, distressed, miserable, dejected, hopeless

Other synonyms:

* For a feeling: Gloomy, dismal, dreary, melancholy

* For a situation: Hopeless, deplorable, pitiful

The best synonym for "desolate" will depend on the specific context in which you are using the word.