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Wasteland - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

A wasteland is a barren, empty area of land with little or no vegetation, often due to environmental damage or neglect. It can also symbolize desolation or hopelessness in literature.

wasteland

/ˈweɪstˌlænd/ /ˈweɪstlənd/

Definition:

Barren or uncultivated land, often neglected or desolate.

Synonyms:

Desert, wilderness, badlands, barren land

Part of Speech:

noun

Antonyms:

Fertile land, paradise, garden

Common Collocations:

Urban wasteland, nuclear wasteland, industrial wasteland

Derivatives:

Wastelander, wastelandish

Usage Tips:

Use "wasteland" to describe unproductive or abandoned land, often with a negative connotation.

Common Phrases:

No man's land, barren wasteland, post-apocalyptic wasteland

Etymology:

From Old English "wæste" (desolate) + "land," meaning uninhabited or uncultivated territory.

Examples:

  • 1. The city's outskirts became a wasteland after the factory closed.
  • 2. Few plants survive in this arid wasteland.
  • 3. The novel depicts a dystopian future filled with radioactive wastelands.
  • 4. They wandered through the urban wasteland searching for shelter.

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