Desolate vs. Destitute — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 26, 2024
Desolate refers to a place that is bleak, barren, and devoid of people, while destitute describes a person or group suffering from extreme poverty.
Difference Between Desolate and Destitute
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Desolate is primarily used to describe empty, abandoned, or solitary places that lack signs of life or activity, often evoking a sense of loneliness or abandonment. In contrast, destitute refers to individuals or populations who are without the basic necessities of life, indicating severe financial hardship.
A desolate landscape might be a deserted city or a barren wasteland, underscoring its lack of inhabitants and stark environment. Whereas, a destitute person struggles with the absence of sufficient resources, such as food, clothing, and shelter, highlighting their dire economic condition.
Desolate can also metaphorically describe emotions, suggesting a feeling of abandonment or isolation, akin to being in an emotionally barren state. On the other hand, destitute strictly pertains to material lack and cannot be used metaphorically for emotional or non-material deficiencies.
The term desolate may carry a poetic or dramatic tone, often used in literature and art to enhance the setting's mood or to describe profound loneliness. Conversely, destitute is a straightforward term used in social, economic, and humanitarian contexts, focusing on the urgent need for basic life provisions.
While both terms imply absence desolate of people or life, and destitute of resources—their uses are distinct, with desolate applying more to physical and emotional settings and destitute to socioeconomic states.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Empty and uninhabited, often barren
Lacking the basic necessities of life, impoverished
Typical Usage
Landscapes, places, emotional states
People, economic conditions
Connotation
Loneliness, abandonment
Extreme poverty, helplessness
Context
Often literary, descriptive
Social, economic
Emotional Impact
Evokes feelings of sadness or bleakness
Evokes sympathy and concern for human plight
Compare with Definitions
Desolate
Feeling or showing misery, unhappiness, or loneliness.
He felt desolate after his friends moved away.
Destitute
Extremely poor and struggling to survive.
Aid organizations work to help destitute populations around the world.
Desolate
Very bleak, dismal, or gloomy.
The storm left the coastline desolate and debris-strewn.
Destitute
Without the basic necessities of life.
The flood left many families destitute and homeless.
Desolate
Barren, devoid of life, or uninhabited.
The once-bustling village now lay desolate and forgotten.
Destitute
Suffering from extreme poverty or deprivation.
The economic crisis has made many once-comfortable people destitute.
Desolate
Lacking the presence of human activity or natural life.
The desolate moonscape was both awe-inspiring and eerie.
Destitute
Lacking in or deprived of resources or possessions.
He found himself destitute after losing his job.
Desolate
Abandoned or forsaken.
The desolate old mansion stood as a relic of a bygone era.
Destitute
In need of financial or other support.
The charity provides meals for destitute individuals.
Desolate
(of a place) uninhabited and giving an impression of bleak emptiness
A desolate Pennine moor
Destitute
Extremely poor and lacking the means to provide for oneself
The charity cares for destitute children
Desolate
Feeling or showing great unhappiness or loneliness
I suddenly felt desolate and bereft
Destitute
Lacking resources or the means of subsistence; completely impoverished.
Desolate
Make (a place) appear bleakly empty
The droughts that desolated the dry plains
Destitute
Utterly lacking; devoid
Young recruits destitute of any experience.
Desolate
Devoid of inhabitants; deserted
"streets which were usually so thronged now grown desolate" (Daniel Defoe).
Destitute
(followed by the preposition "of") Lacking something; devoid
Desolate
Barren; lifeless
The rocky, desolate surface of the moon.
Destitute
Lacking money; poor, impoverished
Desolate
Feeling, showing, causing, or expressing sadness or loneliness.
Destitute
(transitive) To impoverish; to strip of wealth, resources, etc.
Desolate
To rid or deprive of inhabitants.
Destitute
Forsaken; not having in possession (something necessary, or desirable); deficient; lacking; devoid; - often followed by of.
In thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute.
Totally destitute of all shadow of influence.
Desolate
To lay waste; devastate
"Here we have no wars to desolate our fields" (Michel Guillaume Jean de Crèvecoeur).
Destitute
Not possessing the necessaries of life; in a condition of want; needy; without possessions or resources; very poor.
They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented.
Desolate
To forsake; abandon.
Destitute
To leave destitute; to forsake; to abandon.
To forsake or destitute a plantation.
Desolate
To make lonely, forlorn, or wretched.
Destitute
To make destitute; to cause to be in want; to deprive; - followed by of.
Destituted of all honor and livings.
Desolate
Deserted and devoid of inhabitants.
A desolate isle; a desolate wilderness; a desolate house
Destitute
To disappoint.
When his expectation is destituted.
Desolate
Barren and lifeless.
Destitute
Poor enough to need help from others
Desolate
Made unfit for habitation or use because of neglect, destruction etc.
Desolate altars
Desolate
Dismal or dreary.
Desolate
To deprive of inhabitants.
Desolate
To devastate or lay waste somewhere.
Desolate
To abandon or forsake something.
Desolate
To make someone sad, forlorn and hopeless.
Desolate
Destitute or deprived of inhabitants; deserted; uninhabited; hence, gloomy; as, a desolate isle; a desolate wilderness; a desolate house.
I will make Jerusalem . . . a den of dragons, and I will make the cities of Judah desolate, without an inhabitant.
And the silvery marish flowers that throngThe desolate creeks and pools among.
Desolate
Laid waste; in a ruinous condition; neglected; destroyed; as, desolate altars.
Desolate
Left alone; forsaken; lonely; comfortless.
Have mercy upon, for I am desolate.
Voice of the poor and desolate.
Desolate
Lost to shame; dissolute.
Desolate
Destitute of; lacking in.
I were right now of tales desolate.
Desolate
To make desolate; to leave alone; to deprive of inhabitants; as, the earth was nearly desolated by the flood.
Desolate
To lay waste; to ruin; to ravage; as, a fire desolates a city.
Constructed in the very heart of a desolating war.
Desolate
Leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch;
The mother deserted her children
Desolate
Reduce in population;
The epidemic depopulated the countryside
Desolate
Devastate or ravage;
The enemy lay waste to the countryside after the invasion
Desolate
Providing no shelter or sustenance;
Bare rocky hills
Barren lands
The bleak treeless regions of the high Andes
The desolate surface of the moon
A stark landscape
Desolate
Pitiable in circumstances especially through abandonment;
Desolate and despairing
Left forlorn
Desolate
Crushed by grief;
Depressed and desolate of soul
A low desolate wail
Desolate
Made uninhabitable;
Upon this blasted heath
A wasted landscape
Common Curiosities
Is 'destitute' used only to describe financial poverty?
Primarily, yes, it refers to severe financial hardship, though it can also imply a lack of other resources.
How can society assist destitute individuals?
Through social services, charitable aid, and economic policies aimed at providing food, shelter, and job opportunities.
What are the living conditions like for someone who is destitute?
They are extremely poor, lacking basic necessities such as adequate food, clothing, and shelter.
Can a person be described as desolate?
Yes, but in an emotional context, meaning they feel abandoned, lonely, or in a state of despair.
How do writers use the concept of desolation in literature?
Writers use desolation to set a mood of isolation, abandonment, or melancholy in their narratives.
What might cause someone to become destitute?
Factors can include job loss, economic downturns, health problems, or the lack of a social safety net.
What are the psychological effects of living in desolation?
Living in desolation can lead to feelings of loneliness, despair, and disconnection from society.
What is the difference between being poor and being destitute?
Being poor means living with limited resources, while being destitute refers to a more severe condition of lacking basic life necessities.
What does it mean if a place is described as desolate?
It means the place is empty, abandoned, or barren, often conveying a sense of loneliness or bleakness.
What does it imply if an area's wildlife is described as desolate?
It suggests that the area is devoid of or severely lacking in wildlife, possibly due to environmental issues or human impact.
What can be done to prevent people from becoming destitute?
Preventative measures include robust economic policies, accessible healthcare, educational opportunities, and effective social welfare programs.
Can a city become desolate?
Yes, a city can become desolate if it is abandoned or suffers from significant population decline, leaving it empty and barren.
Can nature be desolate?
Yes, natural environments can be desolate if they are barren, extremely remote, or uninhabitable.
How can desolation affect a community?
Desolation can lead to economic decline, reduced property values, and a decrease in community morale and cohesion.
How does desolation contribute to a place's atmosphere?
Desolation can give a place a haunting, eerie, or profoundly somber atmosphere, affecting the emotional landscape of an area.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
