desertify

transitive verb

de·​sert·​i·​fy di-ˈzər-tə-ˌfī How to pronounce desertify (audio)
desertified; desertifying; desertifies
: to make (an area) into arid land or desert : to cause (land) to undergo desertification
The thick, dusty air … coats grass blades to death and desertifies everything in a wide radius around the city.—New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2009
In North America alone an estimated 1.1 billion acres have been desertified, and researchers suggest that global warming may generate more desert acreage in the coming century.—Carl Zimmer, Discover, February 1995

Word History

First Known Use

1981, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of desertify was in 1981

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Rhymes for desertify

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desertification
desertify
desertion
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Cite this Entry

“Desertify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/desertify. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.

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