marooned

word · lemma: maroon

Definition

Left alone and unable to leave a place, usually an island, with no way of escape. Often used when someone is abandoned in a remote or dangerous location.

Usage & Nuances

Formal/literary word, most often appears in stories or news about shipwrecks, survival, or being stranded ('marooned on an island'). Rare in everyday conversation. Do not confuse with 'maroon' (the color) or 'stranded' (broader, not always life-threatening).

Example Sentences

The sailors were marooned on a deserted island.

basic

He felt marooned in the middle of nowhere.

basic

The broken boat left them marooned for days.

basic

After the storm, we were completely marooned with no way to call for help.

natural

It's a little scary to feel marooned in a new city where you don't know anyone.

natural

They joked about being marooned at work when the elevator stopped.

natural