barren

¹bar·ren

adj \ˈber-ən, ˈba-rən\

Definition of BARREN

1

: not reproducing: as a : incapable of producing offspring —used especially of females or matings b : not yet or not recently pregnant c : habitually failing to fruit

2

: not productive: as a : producing little or no vegetation : desolate <barren deserts> b : producing inferior crops <barren soil> c : unproductive of results or gain : fruitless <a barren scheme>

3

: devoid, lacking —used with of <barren of excitement>

4

: lacking interest or charm <a barren routine>

5

: lacking inspiration or ideas <a barren mind>

— bar·ren·ly adverb

— bar·ren·ness \-ə(n)-nəs\ noun

Examples of BARREN

1. Few creatures can thrive on these barren mountaintops.
2. The book was good, but I found the barren lives of the characters depressing.

Origin of BARREN

Middle English bareine, from Anglo-French barain, perhaps of Celtic origin; akin to Middle Welsh brynar fallow land

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to BARREN

Synonyms: bony (also boney), dead, desolate, hardscrabble, impoverished, infertile, poor, stark, unfertile, unproductive, waste

Antonyms: fertile, fruitful, lush, luxuriant, productive, rich

Related Words: bleak, inhospitable, lifeless; uncultivable, untillable; bankrupted, consumed, debilitated, depleted, diminished, drained, dried-up, enfeebled, exhausted, expended, lessened, reduced, spent, used up; arid, desert, droughty, dry, rainless, sere (also sear), thirsty, waterless; baked, dehydrated, parched, sunbaked

Near Antonyms: arable, tillable; green, sylvan, verdant

see all synonyms and antonyms

[+]more[-]hide

See Synonym Discussion at bare

Other Ecology Terms

Malthusian, anthropogenic, biomass, carbon footprint, crepuscular, niche, sere, symbiosis, taiga, tundra

Rhymes with BARREN

baron, garron