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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 The flying monkeys of Oz, Timothée Chalamet's mustache, and a very bald Emma Stone are all set to become major players across the 2025-2026 awards season. Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025 With a bald noggin and spattered in white goo, Stone looks otherworldly while defending her humanity. Brian Truitt, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025 Some moviegoers their heads to match Stone’s bald character at the Fantastic Fest surprise screening and multiple screenings since including this past Monday in Los Angeles. Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 24 Oct. 2025 According to Wright, most regrowth treatments begin after a bald spot or thinning area has already appeared. Essence, 23 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bald
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bald
Adjective
  • Markle’s commitment to bare feet comes with bigger health benefits.
    Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Walls on the first floor of the Capitol are bare as portraits of Tennessee governors usually displayed outside the Governor’s Office and Old Supreme Court Chambers have been taken down to prevent them from being damaged.
    Vivian Jones, Nashville Tennessean, 24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • While House Republicans can pass legislation with a simple majority vote, Senate Republicans cannot advance most matters without meeting a 60-vote threshold.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2025
  • But in stoppage time, Miami was gifted a third goal when Jordi Alba crossed from the left and keeper Willis, colliding with defender Walker Zimmerman, spilled the ball right to Messi, who had the simplest of tap-ins.
    The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • One obvious reason for my interest in the movie, then, was that Walter Matthau reminded me, a little bit, of my father.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 Nov. 2025
  • There are good pieces in place, but replacing or re-signing Bregman seems to be an obvious offseason priority, and another impact starter would certainly help.
    Stephen J. Nesbitt, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The extensive exposed brick walls, natural wood exposed ceiling beams, and organic decor pieces are just a few details that will keep dinner guests guessing.
    Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Defenseman Jacob Trouba stopped what seemed like a sure goal with his stick, helping goaltender Jakob Dostal by knocking away a shot headed toward an exposed side of the net.
    Josh Gross, Oc Register, 17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The system uses the infrared wavelength—invisible to the naked eye—as opposed to visible light to prevent the signals from interfering with the residual peripheral vision the subjects still have.
    Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Jenner offered a peek into her beachy surroundings by sharing pictures of a cloudy sky, ripples of water hitting the sand, and herself sitting naked in front of a clear blue ocean.
    Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Kerrygold Salted Butter Sticks The creamy texture of Kerrygold Butter is unmistakable—and a delicious addition to a holiday meal or dessert.
    Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2025
  • Two cars named Above and Beyond with subtle but unmistakable nautical references—including the port and starboard colors on a boat’s lights, along with design motifs of several famous superyachts.
    Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Freshly caught fish often hang in plain sight, and the selection changes so frequently that a whiteboard keeps track of what’s available.
    Aaron Randolph, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
  • To create your own, write a name on a plain paper gift tag.
    Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The image quickly drew astonishment and amusement from Reddit users, who could not believe the apparent lack of awareness—or concern—by the neighbors responsible.
    Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
  • Toklas went on to fiercely uphold the author’s legacy, honoring Stein’s apparent desire to be understood while at the same time respecting her equally strong wish to remain elusive.
    Daphne Merkin, The Atlantic, 31 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Bald.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bald. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.

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