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verb

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

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 bare
Adjective
Rite Aid isn’t buying new inventory so bare shelves are likely become more common. Michelle Deal-Zimmerman, Baltimore Sun, 7 May 2025 Volunteers are expected to live modestly and are paid a monthly living allowance that covers their bare necessities. Thomas J Nisley, The Conversation, 6 May 2025
Verb
Punk legend turned pop sensation Billy Idol bares it all in this electrifying documentary, revealing his rise to fame, battle with addiction and triumphant comeback that captivated millions of fans worldwide. Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2025 Higher prices and shortages are likely As Trump continues to make conflicting statements about tariffs, companies are actively looking at higher prices, lower sales and possibly bare shelves in stores due to fewer shipments from China. Josh Boak, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bare
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bare
Adjective
  • This took mere minutes but left a lasting impression on me as a customer.
    Jesper With-Fogstrup, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
  • The eight Black Sox players were acquitted on Aug. 2, 1921, after the jury convened for a mere two hours, 47 minutes.
    Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • Simple Systems: Create ease and flow with simple back-end structures and client journeys.
    Christine Williams, Forbes.com, 12 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
  • Banking has become functionally correct but emotionally devoid, with the industry swimming in a sea of sameness.
    Michael Abbott, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Delle, devoid for so long from its intrinsic need for social interaction might be filling in the gaps by talking to himself.
    Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 14 Feb. 2023
Verb
  • The list also reveals the male and female names that are the most popular: Olivia and Emma ranked No. 1 and No. 2 for girls, and Liam and Noah ranked No. 1 and No. 2 for boys.
    Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 13 May 2025
  • Even beyond the legal angle, this chaotic tariff regime reveals something more troubling: a total absence of strategic thinking.
    Aron Solomon, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 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
  • One night at dinner, my daughter whispered to me that the empty bread basket was a bummer.
    Lauren Mechling, Vogue, 19 May 2025
  • The mad sorceress Eudoxia, Empress of Troy, has died, leaving the Serpent Throne empty.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

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

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