Desert, Waste and Wilderness are the words which generally refer to a place that is largely inhabited. However, there are little differences that separate the three.

Desert mainly refers to a dry place which has lack of water and is usually sandy.
It is difficult to locate an oasis in a big desert like the Sahara desert.

Waste refers to a place which is wild and has lack of cultivation and inhabitants.
It’s difficult to build anything or survive in this waste.

Wilderness refers to a place which is either completely barren or covered with dense vegetation hence making it difficult to find one’s way.
‘ It seems impossible to get through this wilderness and reach our camp’, said one of the students who got lost in the woods.