the bare bones
plural noun
: the most basic or important elements or parts of something
The company reduced the staff to the bare bones.
—often + ofWhat are the bare bones of the story?
Examples of the bare bones in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
There’s usually a pretty steep price difference between the bare bones and the luxe stuff but Quince has bridged that gap.
—
Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 28 May 2026
Those are the bare bones of The Devil Wears Prada 2’s plot, but the Speed Fash crisis is hardly Miranda’s biggest problem.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 29 Apr. 2026
Palace’s squad is down to the bare bones.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026
Entire architectural structures were pulled apart and removed from the home, leaving only the bare bones of the once-singular palace.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 18 Sep. 2025
Although the bare bones of his criminal exploits were reported in a few North Carolina publications, authorities kept his connection to events at Fort Bragg under wraps.
—Seth Harp, Rolling Stone, 28 July 2025
The tariff letters were similar to the bare bones outline of a trade agreement with Vietnam, disclosed last Wednesday.
—Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 8 July 2025
Despite having stars Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal on the roster, Phoenix just couldn't overcome the bare bones of the remaining roster.
—Matt Levine, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 May 2025
Most passes at this price point only include the bare bones amenities, guaranteeing access to the pool deck and a swim but little else—deck chairs and shower access might cost extra, so read the fine print.
—Charlie Hobbs, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Aug. 2024
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Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 28 May 2026
Those are the bare bones of The Devil Wears Prada 2’s plot, but the Speed Fash crisis is hardly Miranda’s biggest problem.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 29 Apr. 2026
Palace’s squad is down to the bare bones.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026
Entire architectural structures were pulled apart and removed from the home, leaving only the bare bones of the once-singular palace.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 18 Sep. 2025
Although the bare bones of his criminal exploits were reported in a few North Carolina publications, authorities kept his connection to events at Fort Bragg under wraps.
—Seth Harp, Rolling Stone, 28 July 2025
The tariff letters were similar to the bare bones outline of a trade agreement with Vietnam, disclosed last Wednesday.
—Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 8 July 2025
Despite having stars Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal on the roster, Phoenix just couldn't overcome the bare bones of the remaining roster.
—Matt Levine, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 May 2025
Most passes at this price point only include the bare bones amenities, guaranteeing access to the pool deck and a swim but little else—deck chairs and shower access might cost extra, so read the fine print.
—Charlie Hobbs, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Aug. 2024
Cite this Entry
“The bare bones.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20bare%20bones. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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