Synonyms of bare

bare 1 of 2

adjective

ˈber 

1

as in mere

being this and no more

impoverished people who can no longer afford the bare necessities

Synonyms & Similar Words

• mere
• very
• sheer
• simple
• only
• total
• pure
• utter
• absolute
• outright
• stark
• sole
• solitary
• lone
• unmitigated
• alone
• unqualified
• unadulterated
• unalloyed
• singular
• out-and-out
• arrant
• unique
• all-out
• solo

2

as in simple

free from all additions or embellishment

do you want to know the bare truth?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• simple
• plain
• naked
• unadorned
• stripped
• bald
• clean
• undecorated
• unvarnished
• unornamented
• unembellished
• quiet
• restrained
• honest
• plain-vanilla
• homely
• spartan
• elemental
• modest
• unsophisticated
• denuded
• divested
• bleak
• earthy
• stark
• subdued
• natural
• minimalist
• forthright
• unpretentious
• severe
• inconspicuous
• austere
• muted
• conservative
• antiseptic
• unobtrusive
• toned (down)
• understated
• sober
• au naturel

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fancy
• adorned
• decorated
• loud
• gaudy
• showy
• ornamented
• tawdry
• garish
• embellished
• flashy
• glitzy
• ostentatious
• flamboyant
• swank
• lurid
• exaggerated
• florid
• glittery
• elaborate
• splashy
• overwrought
• trimmed
• ornate
• extravagant
• baroque
• rococo
• dressed
• bedizened
• embroidered
• decked-out
• bedecked
• overdecorated
• arrayed
• garnished
• overdone
• appareled

3

as in exposed

lacking a usual or natural covering

the ground was bare, without a trace of grass

Synonyms & Similar Words

• exposed
• naked
• stripped
• uncovered
• peeled
• open
• bald
• denuded
• displayed
• unprotected
• revealed
• shaven
• skinned
• hairless
• unclothed
• undressed
• unclad
• divested
• disrobed
• furless

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• covered
• mantled
• overgrown
• hairy
• bearded
• overrun
• overspread

4

as in naked

lacking or shed of clothing

the toddler liked to run around bare

Synonyms & Similar Words

• naked
• stripped
• nude
• unclad
• unclothed
• undressed
• stark naked
• raw
• bottomless
• in the raw
• in the nude
• disrobed
• starkers
• peeled
• mother-naked
• topless
• in the buff
• au naturel
• denuded
• in the altogether
• unveiled
• seminude

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• clad
• covered
• clothed
• invested
• suited
• dressed
• robed
• garbed
• veiled
• attired
• vested
• arrayed
• appareled
• rigged (out)
• decked (out)
• caparisoned
• decent
• tricked (out)

5

as in devoid

lacking contents that could or should be present

the cupboard was bare—not a thing to eat

Synonyms & Similar Words

• devoid
• empty
• barren
• clean
• blank
• vacant
• stark
• vacuous
• void
• drained
• hollow
• toom
• emptied
• open
• deserted
• clear
• uninhabited
• available
• dry
• unoccupied
• free
• unfurnished
• unfilled
• depleted
• unattended
• forsaken
• vacated
• abandoned
• exhausted

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• full
• complete
• provided
• replete
• furnished
• occupied
• filled
• supplied
• packed
• flush
• overflowing
• teeming

6

as in void

utterly lacking in something needed, wanted, or expected

the cupboard was bare of baking supplies

Synonyms & Similar Words

• devoid
• void
• barren
• empty
• destitute
• bankrupt
• bereft
• insufficient
• blank
• wanting
• incomplete
• partial
• vacant
• stark
• short
• fragmentary
• absent
• deficient
• innocent
• fragmental
• missing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• full
• filled
• replete
• fraught
• provided
• flush
• rife
• furnished
• supplied
• saturated
• bursting
• crowded
• fat
• packed
• stuffed
• loaded
• brimming
• crammed
• bulging
• thick
• chock-full
• jammed
• teeming
• swarming
• jam-packed
• abounding
• thronging

bare

2 of 2

verb

ˈber 

as in to reveal

to make known (as information previously kept secret)

finally bared the secret that she had kept to herself for so long

Synonyms & Similar Words

• reveal
• disclose
• discover
• expose
• tell
• uncover
• share
• divulge
• announce
• spill
• bring to light
• unveil
• let on (about)
• unbosom
• unmask
• leak
• go public (with)
• confide
• let the cat out of the bag (about)
• spill the beans (about)
• uncloak
• publish
• own
• advertise
• confess
• betray
• post
• unclothe
• proclaim
• declare
• unearth
• inform
• bring out
• show up
• acknowledge
• give away
• impart
• relate
• broadcast
• promulgate
• admit
• debunk
• sound
• communicate
• concede
• publicize
• undrape
• smoke out
• talk
• avow
• blab
• disinter
• blaze
• placard
• squeal
• rake up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hide
• conceal
• veil
• mask
• cloak
• cover (up)
• shroud
• camouflage
• disguise
• enshroud
• varnish
• gild
• obscure
• whitewash
• gloss (over)
• shade
• overshadow
• darken
• cloud
• overcast
• eclipse
• becloud
• bedim
• befog

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective bare differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of bare are bald, barren, naked, and nude. While all these words mean "deprived of naturally or conventionally appropriate covering," bare implies the removal of what is additional, superfluous, ornamental, or dispensable.

an apartment with bare walls

When might bald be a better fit than bare?

The synonyms bald and bare are sometimes interchangeable, but bald implies actual or seeming absence of natural covering and may suggest a conspicuous bareness.

a bald mountain peak

When is it sensible to use barren instead of bare?

The words barren and bare can be used in similar contexts, but barren often suggests aridity or impoverishment or sterility.

barren plains

In what contexts can naked take the place of bare?

While in some cases nearly identical to bare, naked suggests absence of protective or ornamental covering but may imply a state of nature, of destitution, or of defenselessness.

poor half-naked children

Where would nude be a reasonable alternative to bare?

While the synonyms nude and bare are close in meaning, nude applies especially to the unclothed human figure.

a nude model posing for art students

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of bare

Adjective

Minimalists start with the bare minimum for a project and add supplies gradually, which helps prevent unused materials from turning into long-term buildup. — Angelika Pokovba, Martha Stewart, 19 July 2026

Filming the sequence where Circe lures the soldiers to her cabin, drugs them and then transforms them into swine using her bare hands was a thrill. — Brent Lang, Variety, 18 July 2026

Verb

Or bare your arms in this Spanx muscle tee before the weather starts transitioning. — Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026

So the next time your brand wants to bare its teeth, picture Mickey in his tuxedo being attacked by an oversized beaver. — Roger Dooley, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026