desolate
adjective
barren or laid waste; devastated.
was desolating
-
past progressiveof desolate.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Apollo, for example, was born on the island of Delos to which his mother Latona had fled; he slew a monster which was desolating the country at the foot of Parnassus.
From History Of Ancient Civilization by Charles Seignobos
It was desolating, as well as distracting beyond description.
From From Death into Life or, twenty years of my minstry by William Haslam
War was desolating France with woes which to thousands of families must have made existence a curse, and yet amid these scenes we catch many glimpses of merriment and gayety.
From Henry IV, Makers of History by John S. C. (John Stevens Cabot) Abbott
For Sylvia the idea of Miss Lee’s departure and marriage was desolating; it was an abrupt rending of half the ties that bound her to Hornton House.
From The Early Life and Adventures of Sylvia Scarlett by Compton MacKenzie
To leave the house of his own will was bad enough; to be kicked out by his host, and to be followed by his curse was desolating.
From The Tyranny of the Dark by Hamlin Garland
