Definition of nakednext
1
2
3

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective naked differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of naked are bald, bare, barren, and nude. While all these words mean "deprived of naturally or conventionally appropriate covering," naked suggests absence of protective or ornamental covering but may imply a state of nature, of destitution, or of defenselessness.

poor half-naked children

When would bald be a good substitute for naked?

In some situations, the words bald and naked are roughly equivalent. However, bald implies actual or seeming absence of natural covering and may suggest a conspicuous bareness.

a bald mountain peak

When could bare be used to replace naked?

The meanings of bare and naked largely overlap; however, bare implies the removal of what is additional, superfluous, ornamental, or dispensable.

an apartment with bare walls

When can barren be used instead of naked?

While in some cases nearly identical to naked, barren often suggests aridity or impoverishment or sterility.

barren plains

When might nude be a better fit than naked?

The words nude and naked are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, nude applies especially to the unclothed human figure.

a nude model posing for art students

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of naked Over the following five weeks, four more episodes follow him through regression hypnosis, a naked woodland cult and a flotation tank, trailed by a life coach played by comedian Will Hislop, whose credentials came from Instagram. Maureen Kerr, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026 In his journal, Gajdusek sometimes described sleeping in the same bed, naked, with his children, specifically the younger boys. Rachel Aviv, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026 Over time, their purpose evolved into an elegant way to conceal a naked body while changing or to cover up a room’s less appealing realities. Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 15 Aug. 2026 The victim was left naked on a floor with head injuries and broken ribs, and one attacker poured floor cleaner onto his open wounds. Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for naked
Recent Examples of Synonyms for naked
Adjective
  • That line of questioning doesn’t address whether kids are doing other harmful things, such as engaging with nude deepfakes.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The victim said Haywood and the victim took overnight trips together and exchanged nude photographs.
    Bryan Lynn, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Icon Sportswire via Getty Images The sport of bare knuckle is grabbing attention in the United States and in multiple countries.
    Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026
  • In 2023 he was acquitted of domestic abuse charges in a case that had laid bare his private life.
    Andy Mitten, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • With other phones, even something simple like replacing an aging battery often requires melting adhesive, prying apart fragile glass panels, and decoupling cables.
    Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 18 Aug. 2026
  • For a generation that grew up under those glowing Pizza Hut pendants, the appeal is simple.
    Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 18 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • The fact that my life is so exposed is incredibly complex for me.
    Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2026
  • What information the Paidwork leak reportedly exposed The exposed information appears to reach far beyond email addresses.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • When Arsenal lifted the Premier League trophy in May, Martinelli’s comments made his love for the club plain.
    James McNicholas, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Diehl calls it one of the oldest tricks in styling, the pairing of something refined against something plain.
    Pooja Mistry, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • There, too, cafés have been pressured to refuse to serve uncovered women, a young woman who recently traveled there told me.
    Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026
  • But most wrecks of slave ships remain uncovered on the coast.
    Amara Evering, Miami Herald, 11 July 2026
Adjective
  • Anthony is a hulking, bald man with pale skin and even paler eyes, and he was dressed in an island-print tropical shirt.
    George Francis Lee, New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Butler said the crash was a combination of the bad weather and the woman's car having bald tires.
    David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 12 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Beijing is a source of crucial economic support for Iran but has walked a cautious diplomatic line amid the US-Iran war, keeping communications open with players on both sides.
    Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Israel's Ministry of Construction and Housing issued a tender for constructing several compounds with more than 1,200 homes in total in an open tract of land east of Jerusalem.
    Khaled Wassef, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Naked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/naked. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on naked

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster