as desolate as a

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as desolate as a" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to create a simile that compares something to a desolate place, often to convey feelings of emptiness or abandonment. Example: "After the storm passed, the once vibrant town was left as desolate as a ghost town."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Mrs. Aasan's portion of Dora still looks as desolate as a condemned tenement.

The New York Times

You are driving on a road as desolate as a Bergman movie, thinking only of the carefree weekend ahead, when suddenly -- bam -- disaster strikes.

The New York Times - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

But, little Liberty was nearly as desolate as the original on Thursday.

The New York Times

But as desolate as the area looked, it was anything but empty to Ms. Muniz.

The New York Times

At sprawling Camp Leatherneck, their headquarters, lots once packed with armored vehicles are as desolate as frontier ghost towns.

The New York Times

In these films, the homicidal lovebirds drive across vast expanses of land, as desolate as their amoral souls.

Independent

Jones creates superb settings, but none are as desolate as the emotional landscape in which these two roam.

The New York Times - Books

In the context of this programme, the strangely broken bassoon melody in the first movement sounded as desolate as anything Sibelius ever wrote.

The Guardian - Music

But whatever they are called and as desolate as they may be, Mr. Ortiz and the others are proud that they are their domain.

The New York Times

At that moment she looked up and caught my eye, and her expression was as desolate as I have ever seen; it struck me that she was thinking just the same as I was".

The Guardian - Books

At 3 in the morning, with the temperature at 1 and the wind-chill factor making it feel like minus 20, the bottom of this crowded, swarming island was as desolate as the surface of Mars.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Enhance the impact of "as desolate as a" by pairing it with sensory details. For example, describing the wind whistling through an "as desolate as a" ghost town will make the scene more vivid.

Common error

Avoid using "as desolate as a" in contexts that require a positive or cheerful tone. The phrase carries a heavy connotation of sadness and abandonment, making it unsuitable for describing pleasant or celebratory situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as desolate as a" functions as a simile, using the adjective "desolate" to create a comparison. It emphasizes the extreme emptiness or sadness of something by relating it to a similarly desolate entity. Ludwig AI confirms this by showing examples where it's used to describe landscapes or emotional states.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "as desolate as a" is a simile used to convey a strong sense of emptiness, sadness, or abandonment. Grammatically correct, it functions to create vivid descriptions, often in journalistic or narrative contexts. Ludwig AI and the available examples indicate that while the phrase is not frequently used, it is appropriate for emphasizing negative emotions and creating dramatic imagery, as seen in its prevalence in News & Media. When using "as desolate as a", it's important to consider the context and avoid using it in positive or cheerful situations where its somber tone would be incongruous. While this phrase may not be suitable in every context, it's usefulness in descriptive writing remains, especially when trying to create a tone of despair.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as barren as a

Replaces 'desolate' with 'barren', focusing on the lack of life or fertility.

as empty as a

Substitutes 'desolate' with 'empty', emphasizing a lack of content or substance.

as bleak as a

Replaces 'desolate' with 'bleak', highlighting the cheerless and depressing nature.

as forlorn as a

Changes 'desolate' to 'forlorn', adding a sense of being pitifully sad and abandoned.

as deserted as a

Replaces 'desolate' with 'deserted', stressing the absence of people.

as isolated as a

Substitutes 'desolate' with 'isolated', focusing on the separation from others.

as bare as a

Replaces 'desolate' with 'bare', highlighting the lack of covering or ornamentation.

as forsaken as a

Changes 'desolate' to 'forsaken', emphasizing abandonment or being deserted.

as godforsaken as a

Intensifies the sense of desolation by adding a religious connotation of being abandoned by God.

as uninhabited as a

Replaces 'desolate' with 'uninhabited', specifically referring to the absence of residents.

FAQs

How can I use "as desolate as a" in a sentence?

You can use "as desolate as a" to compare something to a place or thing that is deserted, empty, and bleak. For example: "After the factory closed, the town was "as desolate as a" ghost town".

What are some alternatives to "as desolate as a"?

Some alternatives include "as barren as a", "as empty as a", or "as bleak as a" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "as desolate as a" formal or informal?

"As desolate as a" can be used in both formal and informal writing, but it's important to consider the context and tone of your writing. It's generally appropriate for descriptive or narrative writing where you want to emphasize the emptiness or sadness of a situation.

What makes "as desolate as a" different from "desolate"?

"Desolate" is an adjective that describes a place or thing as deserted and bleak. "As desolate as a" is a simile that makes a comparison, emphasizing the degree of desolation by relating it to something else that is known to be extremely desolate. For example, "desolate landscape" versus "as desolate as a wasteland".