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as in bare
lacking a usual or natural covering trees that are bald in the winter aren't the best for giving a home year-round privacy

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective bald differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of bald are bare, barren, naked, and nude. While all these words mean "deprived of naturally or conventionally appropriate covering," bald implies actual or seeming absence of natural covering and may suggest a conspicuous bareness.

a bald mountain peak

When can bare be used instead of bald?

Although the words bare and bald have much in common, bare implies the removal of what is additional, superfluous, ornamental, or dispensable.

an apartment with bare walls

Where would barren be a reasonable alternative to bald?

In some situations, the words barren and bald are roughly equivalent. However, barren often suggests aridity or impoverishment or sterility.

barren plains

When might naked be a better fit than bald?

The words naked and bald are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 could nude be used to replace bald?

The synonyms nude and bald are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 bald One said the shooter was a white bald man; another said the shooter was a Hispanic man with short black hair, another witness described the shooter as thin with a mustache. Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 6 Apr. 2025 The first night, the characters are menaced by a bald hulk in overalls, wearing a clown mask with the mouth area (including his teeth) smashed in. Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 25 Apr. 2025 For many Black women, the impulse to shave your head may come and go, but bald cuts are an easy solution—and quick to grow back. India Espy-Jones, Essence, 9 Apr. 2025 While still a teen, the Gen Zer went completely bald and felt lost. Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bald
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bald
Adjective
  • Individual leaves can be removed but this usually results in bare stems.
    Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 May 2025
  • Victories over Fulham and Everton were the bare minimum required to keep Chelsea’s top-five hopes alive, but beating Liverpool — even a less-than-peak Liverpool so soon after securing the Premier League title — last Sunday was a bigger statement.
    James McNicholas, New York Times, 9 May 2025
Adjective
  • Style them with a simple tank for a casual day out, or add a blazer and ballet flats for a more polished airport look.
    Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 12 May 2025
  • Experts say these are all the benefits of this simple exercise Is Zone 2 cardio best for fat loss?
    Daryl Austin, USA Today, 12 May 2025
Adjective
  • The lesson is obvious for investors: always consider control systems.
    Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025
  • That was all too obvious within minutes of his final home game of the season coming to an end on Friday night.
    Simon Johnson, New York Times, 17 May 2025
Adjective
  • Beneath her blazer, the Princess of Wales styled a light blue, button-up collared shirt with exposed cuffs.
    Julia Teti, Footwear News, 29 Apr. 2025
  • Load up on a nutritious brunch The sisters Xenia and Sophie von Oswald mix and match Persian, German and Australian influences at rocket + basil, an easygoing, no-reservations eatery near the busy Potsdamer Platz, with exposed brick walls painted mint green inside.
    Valeriya Safronova, New York Times, 1 May 2025
Adjective
  • The combo of the two can be difficult to take in with the naked eye.
    Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 17 May 2025
  • The coloration of light in this image does not depict a true optical rainbow as would be seen by the naked eye, but rather a colored representation of different wavelengths of light that highlight the instrument's capability to analyze various components of the solar atmosphere.
    Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • Indeed, her portraits are unmistakable: characterized by saturated backdrops, tactile surfaces, and a deep reverence for Nigerian studio photography traditions that elevate her sitters to mythic status.
    Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 7 May 2025
  • There's no official announcement time during a conclave, but there is one unmistakable signal: white smoke.
    Dan Cody, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 May 2025
Adjective
  • During Kenya’s mass protests last year, demonstrators created chatbots to explain complex legislation in plain language to help their peers understand its impact.
    Erika Page, Christian Science Monitor, 10 May 2025
  • There are date-night options ranging from the expensive to the affordable, from the romantic to the just plain fun.
    Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 9 May 2025
Adjective
  • On their way home to Melbourne, Cave claims their meal at a local pub was interrupted by an apparent interaction with Cage.
    Tyler Jenke, Billboard, 9 May 2025
  • Despite some apparent limitations in the group, there’s a dual purpose to their playing time.
    Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 9 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Bald.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bald. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

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