marooned

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "marooned" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe someone who is stranded or left in a difficult situation, often in a remote place. Example: "After the storm, they found themselves marooned on a deserted island." Alternative expressions include "stranded" and "isolated."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Before lunch I have had a look in the landmark London boozer, the Archway Tavern, marooned on a traffic island at the bottom of Dick Whittington's hill in Highgate, where the cover artwork is shot.

The Guardian - Music

Indeed some food chains could find themselves marooned, as it is estimated that about 50% of the UK's shop leases will expire over the next seven years, threatening to accelerate the pace of high street change.

The Guardian - Business

Drivers also became marooned by heavy snow in Chesterfield and the Peak District.

The Guardian - Business

Angular shards of concrete lie marooned beneath the bridge like fragments of an ice floe cast adrift.

The Guardian

Marooned in the centre of an impossible universe of sand and heat, it has the air of an abandoned space station – alien and stagnant; desperate and defiant.

The Guardian

At the tea break on the first day the entire cast and crew scurried off to the far end of the building to fill up on cakes and sandwiches, leaving my head marooned on the set pleading for somebody to fetch me a cup of apple juice and blow my nose.

The Guardian

But too often, it remains a token gesture, even a -wilful two fingers up to the conservation officer, facades left butchered and awkwardly marooned, as if to say: "You made us keep it, and just see how you like it now".

The Guardian - Arts

A 1,400-year-old 1,400-year-old 1,400-year-oldrophet spent a night, nowellands alone as another endangered fragment marooned in a ruBire wasTuwand.

The Guardian - Arts

Determined to go out with a bang, the directors have organised a music event and art performance to bid the building farewell, featuring a troupe of drag queens, a gang of female bikers, a team of synchronised swimmers marooned on dry land, as well as group of disabled people on mobility scooters.

The Guardian

The present danger is that disease and starvation will strike the thousands marooned on islands in the middle of seas of pollution.The early-warning system along the rivers has unquestionably saved thousands of lives.

The Economist

Hooded men broke windows at the home of a cross-community Alliance Party representative who had spoken out against loyalist paramilitary murals.Much of the violence in the past couple of weeks has focused on two streets, marooned in different ways.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "marooned", consider the connotations of isolation and helplessness. It's most effective when describing situations where someone is not only stranded but also faces challenges due to their isolation.

Common error

Don't use "marooned" simply to describe someone who is delayed or inconvenienced. The term implies a significant degree of isolation and difficulty, not just a temporary setback.

Linguistic Context

The word "marooned" functions primarily as a verb, often in its past participle form, to describe the state of being stranded and isolated. As the Ludwig AI examples show, it can be used both literally (e.g., stranded on an island) and metaphorically (e.g., isolated in a social or political context).

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Encyclopedias

7%

Science

39%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the word "marooned" is a versatile term primarily used as a verb to describe being stranded and isolated, often implying a difficult or helpless situation. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage, particularly in news, encyclopedic, and academic contexts. While alternatives like ""stranded"" or ""isolated"" exist, "marooned" carries a stronger connotation of abandonment and vulnerability. When using "marooned", it's best to reserve it for situations where the isolation is significant and presents real challenges. It's less suitable for minor delays or inconveniences. With its frequency and well-defined meaning, "marooned" remains a potent word choice for conveying the predicament of being cut off and left to face hardship.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Stranded

Focuses on the state of being left without means of return or escape from a particular location.

Isolated

Emphasizes a lack of connection with others, either physically or emotionally.

Abandoned

Highlights the act of being deserted or left behind, often implying a lack of care.

Shipwrecked

Specifically refers to being stranded as a result of a naval accident.

Adrift

Implies a lack of direction or purpose, often in a metaphorical sense.

Cut off

Emphasizes the severance of communication or supply lines.

Forlorn

Describes a state of being sad and lonely, often due to isolation.

Beached

Indicates a state of being stuck or unable to progress, similar to a ship stuck on a beach.

Deserted

Highlights the emptiness and lack of inhabitants in a particular place.

Maroon

Shorter form of the word, it is used as a verb to mean to abandon (someone) ashore on a desert island or remote coast.

FAQs

How to use "marooned" in a sentence?

You can use "marooned" to describe someone or something that is stranded and isolated. For example, "The hikers were "stranded" when the bridge collapsed", or "The old house was "isolated" in the middle of the forest".

What can I say instead of "marooned"?

You can use alternatives like ""stranded"", ""isolated"", or "abandoned" depending on the specific context you're trying to convey.

Which is correct, "marooned" or "stranded"?

"Marooned" and ""stranded"" are similar, but "marooned" often implies a more severe or permanent form of isolation, reminiscent of being left on a desert island. "Stranded" can be more general.

What's the difference between "marooned" and "isolated"?

"Marooned" specifically suggests being abandoned in a remote location, while ""isolated"" indicates a general lack of connection or interaction. You can be "isolated" in a crowd, but you're only "marooned" when you're physically stranded.