/ˈdɛs(ə)lət/

1. (of place) uninhabited and giving an impression of bleak emptiness.
2. (of person) feeling or showing great unhappiness or loneliness.

/ˈdɛsəleɪt/

• 3rd person present: desolates;
• past tense: desolated;
• past participle: desolated;
• gerund or present participle: desolating.

1. make (a place) appear bleakly empty.
2. make (someone) feel utterly wretched and unhappy.