1
a
: rigid in or as if in death
b
: rigidly conforming (as to a pattern or doctrine) : absolute
stark discipline
4
5
: sharply delineated
a stark contrast
starkly
adverb
starkness
noun
1
: in a stark manner
2
: to an absolute or complete degree : wholly
stark naked
stark mad
Synonyms
Examples of stark in a Sentence
Adjective
The room was decorated with stark simplicity.
the stark reality of death
This tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of drunk driving.
There is a stark difference between them.
His criticism of the movie stands in stark contrast to the praise it has received from others.
Recent Examples on the Web
Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 15 Apr. 2024
His proposal: two 44-unit senior housing projects that would be a stark contrast to the multimillion-dollar homes on leafy Mora Drive.
—Kate Talerico, The Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2024
That’s a stark contrast from the first scrimmage, which didn’t include a single interception.
—Ron Counts, Idaho Statesman, 14 Apr. 2024
Contestants fought on a blue canvas devoid of sponsorships, a stark contrast to the Monster Energy, Modelo and DraftKings logos now emblazoned inside U.F.C. octagons.
—Emmanuel Morgan, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2024
The election will also put a spotlight on Modi’s Hindu-first platform, which is in stark contrast to the country’s once-secular roots.
—Astha Rajvanshi, TIME, 12 Apr. 2024
The video stands in stark contrast to Brooks’ own report of the incident.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Yet a decade ago the city’s identity took a tilt with the completion of the stark white Stormen concert hall and library on the waterfront, replacing a rundown car park with two beautiful, big-hitting cultural institutions in the heart of the city.
—Ben Olsen, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Apr. 2024
The stark assessment came as House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has refused to hold a vote on a national security spending package that includes about $60 billion for Ukraine, $14 billion for Israel, and additional money for Pacific initiatives and other priorities.
—Dan Lamothe, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
Shira Ovide, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2020
The divide is stark between the two categories of states.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2020
The contrast is most stark between California and New York.
—refinery29.com, 1 Apr. 2020
The implications are undeniably stark: Informal caregivers will no doubt continue to absorb the majority of the strain.
—Grace Hatton, STAT, 24 Dec. 2019
But the climactic sequence of Midsommar features one of the last surviving Americans running stark naked across the noonday greensward with nobody obviously chasing him.
—Ross Douthat, National Review, 25 July 2019
Around the turn of the last century, our place, which is now surrounded by woods, sat stark on a bald hilltop with nary a tree in sight.
—Vogue, 21 June 2018
Kruger’s stark, carefully laid out design cleverly turns the façade of an innocuous strip-building into the memory of a Greek temple, the classical style in which art museums were once conventionally built.
—Christopher Knight, latimes.com, 14 June 2018
Joslyn Gray is the author of the humor blog stark. raving.
—Joslyn Gray, Redbook, 12 Mar. 2012
Adjective
The Friday night headliner, Lana Del Rey, was in stark contrast to Doja Cat, though not always for the better.
—Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 15 Apr. 2024
His proposal: two 44-unit senior housing projects that would be a stark contrast to the multimillion-dollar homes on leafy Mora Drive.
—Kate Talerico, The Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2024
That’s a stark contrast from the first scrimmage, which didn’t include a single interception.
—Ron Counts, Idaho Statesman, 14 Apr. 2024
Contestants fought on a blue canvas devoid of sponsorships, a stark contrast to the Monster Energy, Modelo and DraftKings logos now emblazoned inside U.F.C. octagons.
—Emmanuel Morgan, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2024
The election will also put a spotlight on Modi’s Hindu-first platform, which is in stark contrast to the country’s once-secular roots.
—Astha Rajvanshi, TIME, 12 Apr. 2024
The video stands in stark contrast to Brooks’ own report of the incident.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Yet a decade ago the city’s identity took a tilt with the completion of the stark white Stormen concert hall and library on the waterfront, replacing a rundown car park with two beautiful, big-hitting cultural institutions in the heart of the city.
—Ben Olsen, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Apr. 2024
The stark assessment came as House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has refused to hold a vote on a national security spending package that includes about $60 billion for Ukraine, $14 billion for Israel, and additional money for Pacific initiatives and other priorities.
—Dan Lamothe, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
Adverb
But the lack of health insurance, sick pay and other protections for many Americans, including Uber contractors, is stark now.
—Shira Ovide, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2020
The divide is stark between the two categories of states.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2020
The contrast is most stark between California and New York.
—refinery29.com, 1 Apr. 2020
The implications are undeniably stark: Informal caregivers will no doubt continue to absorb the majority of the strain.
—Grace Hatton, STAT, 24 Dec. 2019
But the climactic sequence of Midsommar features one of the last surviving Americans running stark naked across the noonday greensward with nobody obviously chasing him.
—Ross Douthat, National Review, 25 July 2019
Around the turn of the last century, our place, which is now surrounded by woods, sat stark on a bald hilltop with nary a tree in sight.
—Vogue, 21 June 2018
Kruger’s stark, carefully laid out design cleverly turns the façade of an innocuous strip-building into the memory of a Greek temple, the classical style in which art museums were once conventionally built.
—Christopher Knight, latimes.com, 14 June 2018
Joslyn Gray is the author of the humor blog stark. raving.
—Joslyn Gray, Redbook, 12 Mar. 2012
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stark.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near stark
Cite this Entry
“Stark.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stark. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stark
1 of 2 adjective1
2
a
: stiff sense 1, motionless
stark in death
b
: inflexible sense 3, strict
stark discipline
3
: sheer entry 1 sense 2a, utter
stark nonsense
4
a
: barren entry 1 sense 2a, desolate
a stark landscape
b
: having few or no ornaments : bare
starkly
adverb
stark
2 of 2 adverb
: wholly, absolutely
stark mad
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