stark

¹stark

adj \ˈstärk\

Definition of STARK

1

a : rigid in or as if in death b : rigidly conforming (as to a pattern or doctrine) : absolute <stark discipline>

2

archaic : strong, robust

3

: utter, sheer <stark nonsense>

4

a : barren, desolate b (1) : having few or no ornaments : bare <a stark white room> (2) : harsh, blunt <the stark realities of death>

5

: sharply delineated <a stark contrast>

— stark·ly adverb

— stark·ness noun

Examples of STARK

1. The room was decorated with stark simplicity.
2. the stark reality of death
3. This tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of drunk driving.
4. There is a stark difference between them.
5. His criticism of the movie stands in stark contrast to the praise it has received from others.

Origin of STARK

Middle English, stiff, strong, from Old English stearc; akin to Old High German starc strong, Lithuanian starinti to stiffen — more at stare

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to STARK

Synonyms: austere, dour, fierce, flinty, forbidding, gruff, intimidating, lowering (also louring), rough, rugged, severe, grim, steely, stern, ungentle

Antonyms: benign, benignant, gentle, mild, nonintimidating, tender

Related Words: bleak, cold, hostile, inhospitable, inimical, unfriendly, unsympathetic; adamant, bound, determined, firm, intent, purposeful, resolute, resolved, steadfast, unflinching; fixed, hard, hardened, hardheaded, immovable, implacable, inflexible, ironhanded, mulish, obdurate, obstinate, rigid, self-willed, set, stiff, stubborn, unbending, uncompromising, unrelenting, unyielding, willful (or wilful); immutable, unchangeable; black, cheerless, dark, gloomy, glum, joyless, melancholic, moody, morose, sulky, sullen, surly; brooding, grave, humorless, melancholy, serious, sober, sobersided, solemn, somber (or sombre), staid, unsmiling, weighty

Near Antonyms: bland, meek, mellow, soft, soothing; easy, quiet, tranquil; agreeable, bright, cheerful, inviting, pleasant, pleasing, sweet; glad, happy, lighthearted, merry, mirthful, sunny; featherbrained, flighty, frivolous, giddy, goofy, harebrained, light-headed, playful, scatterbrained, silly

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Rhymes with STARK

arc, ark, bark, dark, hark, lark, marc, MARC, mark, Mark, marque, narc, nark, park, Park, quark, sark, shark, spark