Synonyms for

Deserts

Verb / ˈdezɜ:ts / / dɪˈzɜ:ts / Another word for deserts — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

Deserts can mean either a barren area of land with little precipitation, or it can mean the just punishment for a wrongdoing.

Synonyms & similar words

comeupance forsake comeuppance abandon defect desolate desert wasteland wilderness badlands oasis exile banishment ostracism retribution punishment penalty payback recompense comeuppance reward

Synonyms by register

Formal

merits due entitlement

Informal

what's coming to you what you deserve your due

Literary

requital meed

Antonyms

rewards benefits boons perks prizes accolades

Common collocations

  • get your deserts
  • rich deserts
  • well-earned deserts
  • just deserts
  • sweet deserts
  • richly deserved deserts

Word family

noun desert
verb desert

Usage note

Often used in the phrase 'get one's just deserts' to mean receiving what one deserves, especially punishment. It is typically used in the plural form.

Example sentences

  1. The camel can survive in the desert without water for days.
  2. She was exiled to a desert island for her wrongdoing.
  3. The criminal got his just deserts when he was sentenced to jail.
  4. The desert is a harsh environment for living things.
  5. He suffered the desertion of his friends when they found out about his crime.

Quotes

  • "The desert has its own special beauty." - Edward Abbey
  • "The desert, when the sun comes up...I couldn't tell where heaven stopped and the Earth began." - Tom Hanks
  • "The desert is a natural extension of the inner silence of the body." - Jean Baudrillard

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