Desolate

1. verb

   leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch

   “The mother deserted her children”

   Similar: abandon, forsake, desert

2. verb

   reduce in population

   “The epidemic depopulated the countryside”

   Similar: depopulate

3. verb

   cause extensive destruction or ruin utterly

   “The enemy lay waste to the countryside after the invasion”

   Similar: lay waste to, waste, devastate, ravage, scourge