marooned

American  

[muh-roond] / məˈrund /

adjective

1. abandoned on a desolate island or coast by way of punishment or the like, as was done by buccaneers.

   In exchange for food supplies left for them on the island, the marooned mutineers handed over the ship's instruments and charts.

2. placed or left in an isolated and often dangerous position.

   Getting flood relief to the marooned villages has proved difficult.

3. abandoned or stuck somewhere without resources.

   When flights were grounded after 9/11, Canadians offered their hospitality and their homes to put up marooned Americans.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of maroon.

Etymology

Origin of marooned

maroon ² + -ed ² ( def. )

Explanation

Someone who's marooned is stranded. When a sailor's boat is washed up on the shore of a deserted island after a big storm, both the sailor and the boat are marooned. If a teenager is abandoned at the mall by her friends, you could describe her as marooned. A marooned cruise ship that's stuck on a rocky beach is probably full of marooned passengers.

Example Sentences

Nguyen is struggling to piece together the logic that led to his client being marooned in a country where he had no ties.

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

For Dallas, a 10th straight loss leaves the Mavericks marooned in 12th in the Western Conference, and outside of playoff contention.

From Barron's • Feb. 21, 2026

With Alisson marooned upfield for a set-piece as Liverpool searched for a late equaliser, Rayan Cherki kicked the ball towards an empty net.

From BBC • Feb. 8, 2026

The fallout has been personal and immediate: holidays canceled, families unable to bring medicine to aging relatives, and cash-strapped Venezuelans marooned abroad.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 23, 2025

There’s no denying how completely empty the room is, how alone I am, how marooned.

From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson

Related Words

• ashore
• stranded
• wrecked