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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 man’s chest, neck, face, and head were a carbon copy of a Lenin bust, his bald head shining like white marble. Literary Hub, 30 June 2025 Cops released images of the suspect, who is bald and wears glasses, in the hopes that the public could help identify him. Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 27 June 2025 His bald head, white button-down and black dress pants closely resemble the 61-year-old Amazon founder. Colson Thayer, People.com, 27 June 2025 The officer drove by the vehicle and saw what appeared to be a bald white man sitting in the driver’s seat staring straight ahead. Mara Gottfried, Mercury News, 17 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for bald
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bald
Adjective
  • With its minimalist rectangular face and refined proportions, the Carino watch by Heaven Mayhem adds just enough polish to bare wrists peeking from oversized shirt cuffs.
    Angela Lei, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
  • Riccardo’s dad, along with two lifeguards and other vacationers, began digging with their bare hands and eventually discovered Riccardo’s lifeless body in the hole that had collapsed and caved in, per the outlet.
    Toria Sheffield, People.com, 12 July 2025
Adjective
  • The mower mulches the grass into super fine clippings and catches them in the attached bag, which was simple to remove and empty.
    Brandi Fuller, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 July 2025
  • Taxes are never simple, nor quick to fix, but need to be top of mind during crypto week.
    Sean Stein Smith, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
Adjective
  • And then there are the descriptions of the additional terms, which may not be obvious.
    Erik Sherman, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
  • But a sharp turn straight into country seems like far too obvious a path for a singer-songwriter who has quietly done her own thing.
    Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 14 July 2025
Adjective
  • Even with the help of the train, rescuers hiked a mile along an exposed ridgeline above 5,000 feet, encountering high winds and freezing temperatures, to reach Wilson.
    Owen Clarke, Outside Online, 24 June 2025
  • Iran would likely retaliate against U.S. troops stationed at exposed and vulnerable bases in Iraq and Syria.
    Reid Smith, Foreign Affairs, 18 June 2025
Adjective
  • Meteor showers are best observed with the naked eye, with a telescope or binoculars a poor choice.
    Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
  • As the name indicates, these insects are nearly impossible to see with your naked eye.
    Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 15 July 2025
Adjective
  • The public display hit televisions and phone screens across the country and was an unmistakable signal that the Trump administration was not done flexing its political muscle in California.
    Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 19 July 2025
  • Dignity Through Every Stage Of Life The shift in conversation is unmistakable.
    Karen Fonseth, Forbes.com, 18 July 2025
Adjective
  • There are over 20 flavors (watermelon’s a winner) to beat plain water for energy.
    Parker Hall, Wired News, 11 July 2025
  • Avocado and Lime For a creamier dressing, an avocado-lime blend can turn a plain salad into a savory and filling meal.
    Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 10 July 2025
Adjective
  • In apparent disbelief, Berger simply sank to her knees, her arms outstretched and a huge grin on her face, and watched as her jubilant teammates sprinted towards her to celebrate.
    Jamie Barton, CNN Money, 20 July 2025
  • Runyan only started practicing later in the spring after recovering from an apparent surgery in the early offseason.
    Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 19 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Bald.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bald. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.

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