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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 That’s where theonly available photo of the bald middle-aged Singer appears, a related Osceola County mug shot. Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025 In addition to that bald screening, Focus also did a live Q&A stream with Stone and Jesse Plemons via Alamo Drafthouse theaters and some in-person Q&As in New York and Los Angeles. Brian Welk, IndieWire, 3 Nov. 2025 Vitale loved it, posing for one photo after another, signing one scrap of paper after another, making one joke about his bald head after another. Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 3 Nov. 2025 The reason for Emma Stone’s bald head, Bugonia stars Stone as a pharmaceutical CEO who is abducted by conspiracy-theorist cousins Teddy (Jesse Plemons) and Don (Aidan Delbis). Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 1 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bald
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bald
Adjective
  • Several of the most striking photographs in the book are of the studio itself, which appears empty except for a pair of high heels reflected in a wall of mirrors or a rumpled military blanket, a favorite backdrop, pinned to a bare wall.
    Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 8 Nov. 2025
  • But as recently as two years ago, the Boston pitching cupboard was almost bare.
    Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • According to Bruce Blair, a former Air Force launch officer and nuclear policy expert, between 1962 and the mid-1970s the most powerful digits on the globe were simple – eight zeros.
    Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 9 Nov. 2025
  • That something as simple as a COVID vaccine might improve survival in cancer patients receiving standard immunotherapy has taken oncologists by surprise — in a good way.
    Lisa Jarvis, Twin Cities, 8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The single-minded obsession with Mamdani’s talk of affordability, while convenient for the mayor-elect and a vital part of his appeal, also misses an obvious point.
    Ben Smith, semafor.com, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Could the Cavs tinker just a little more to take advantage of his efficiency and obvious talent, even when everyone else is healthy?
    Joe Vardon, New York Times, 10 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
  • Over time, the bird became woven into Thanksgiving tradition and ultimately became the unmistakable symbol of the holiday.
    Daryl Austin, USA Today, 10 Nov. 2025
  • The song became a global feminist anthem, and the video a touchstone for her unmistakable style.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 9 Nov. 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
  • Prince Harry apologized for his apparent support of the Los Angeles Dodgers during the 2025 World Series.
    Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Watson, in an apparent spur-of-the-moment remark, announced that the project would devote 3 to 5 percent of its budget to the study of bioethics.
    Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 7 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Bald.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bald. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.

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