Marooned: meaning, definitions and examples

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marooned

 

[mษ™หˆruหnd ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Adjective

feeling

left in a place from which it is difficult to leave

Synonyms

abandoned, isolated, stranded.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
marooned

Specifically refers to being left alone in a place, usually an island, where there is little chance to escape. It has a sense of being stranded but often with more dramatic or dire circumstances.

  • The sailors were marooned on a deserted island
  • He felt like a marooned castaway, with no help in sight
stranded

Implies being stuck in a place without the means to leave. It generally suggests difficulty but not necessarily danger.

  • The travelers were stranded at the airport due to the storm
  • She was stranded in the city with no money
isolated

Describes someone or something that is separated from others. It's often used to talk about physical, social, or emotional separation.

  • Due to the snowstorm, the village was completely isolated
  • She felt isolated in her new school
abandoned

Use when someone or something is left alone, often in a place perceived as unsafe or unwanted. This word usually carries a negative connotation.

  • The abandoned house looked eerie at night
  • He felt abandoned by his friends

Examples of usage

  • I felt marooned in the middle of the desert with no way to contact help.
  • She was marooned on the deserted island after her boat sank.
Context #2 | Verb

desert island

leave (someone) trapped and isolated in an inaccessible place, especially an island

Synonyms

abandon, cast away, strand.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
marooned

When someone is left in a remote and isolated place, especially an island or a deserted area, typically with no means to escape.

  • The sailor was marooned on the tiny island after the shipwreck.
  • She felt marooned in the middle of the desert.
strand

When someone or something is left in a difficult or helpless situation, often because of a lack of resources such as money or transportation.

  • The tourists were stranded at the airport due to the heavy snowstorm.
  • His car broke down, leaving him stranded in the middle of nowhere.
abandon

When someone or something is left behind intentionally, often in a sudden or permanent way, and it can carry a negative connotation.

  • The parents abandoned their old car by the side of the road.
  • He decided to abandon his quest before it was too late.
cast away

When someone is thrown or driven out, particularly as an outcome of a shipwreck, leading to isolation; often used in dramatic or literary contexts.

  • The survivors were cast away on a desolate island.
  • After being cast away by the storm, he found himself alone on the beach.

Examples of usage

  • The captain marooned the mutinous sailor on a remote island.
  • He was marooned by his so-called friends on the deserted island.

Interesting Facts

Historical Origins

  • The term 'marooned' comes from the late 17th century and is derived from 'Maroons,' which referred to runaway slaves in the Caribbean who escaped to live independently in remote areas.
  • In the 18th century, it was common to abandon sailors on deserted islands as punishment, which is believed to have popularized the word in maritime contexts.

Literature

  • The theme of being marooned is prevalent in novels like 'Robinson Crusoe,' where the protagonist survives alone on a deserted island, showcasing human resilience.
  • Many adventure stories, including 'The Swiss Family Robinson,' explore the challenges faced by individuals stranded in isolated locations.

Pop Culture

  • Movies like 'Cast Away,' featuring Tom Hanks, highlight modern interpretations of characters marooned on islands, exploring survival and loneliness.
  • Video games such as 'Stranded Deep' allow players to experience being marooned, enhancing the thrill of survival and exploration in a virtual setting.

Psychology

  • Being marooned can lead to feelings of isolation, which researchers say may impact mental health through stress and loneliness.
  • Studies show that extreme isolation can cause shifts in perception and time, leading individuals to become more introspective.

Science

  • In ecology, 'marooning' can refer to the isolation of species or populations, impacting biodiversity and survival rates in habitats.
  • Some scientific studies look into how creatures adapt to isolation, providing insights into survival mechanisms in extreme environments.

Translations

Translations of the word "marooned" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น abandonado

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคซเค‚เคธเคพ เคนเฅเค†

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช gestrandet

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ terdampar

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฟะพะบะธะฝัƒั‚ะธะน

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ porzucony

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๅ–ใ‚Šๆฎ‹ใ•ใ‚ŒใŸ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท รฉchouรฉ

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ abandonado

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท terk edilmiลŸ

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๋ฒ„๋ ค์ง„

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ู…ู‡ุฌูˆุฑ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ opuลกtฤ›nรฝ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ opustenรฝ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ่ขซ้—ๅผƒ็š„

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ zapuลกฤen

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ yfirgefinn

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ั‚ะฐัั‚ะฐะปะณะฐะฝ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ›แƒ˜แƒขแƒแƒ•แƒ”แƒ‘แƒฃแƒšแƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ tษ™rk edilmiลŸ

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ abandonado

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #30,011 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.