as in sparse
including only what is most basic or needed
a bare-bones website a bare-bones wedding ceremony The hotel rooms are bare-bones.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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-bones
Studies indicate that Gen Z’s hope is for a kind of bare-bones stability, for a debt-free life rather than one filled with riches.
—
Hua Hsu,
New Yorker,
22 June 2026
Rather than going fully bare-bones, the Callback positions itself as the middle ground between a smartphone that's too smart and a dumbphone that's too dumb.
—
New Atlas,
22 June 2026
The bare-bones account of unfolding horror.
—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 June 2026
Some viewers and beginner-painters valued his bare-bones instructions on how to create unchallenging landscape portraits, while still some others undoubtedly enjoyed Ross and his painting lessons for their snark value.
—
Randy McMullen,
Mercury News,
4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for bare-bones
Hua Hsu,
New Yorker,
22 June 2026
Rather than going fully bare-bones, the Callback positions itself as the middle ground between a smartphone that's too smart and a dumbphone that's too dumb.
—
New Atlas,
22 June 2026
The bare-bones account of unfolding horror.
—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 June 2026
Some viewers and beginner-painters valued his bare-bones instructions on how to create unchallenging landscape portraits, while still some others undoubtedly enjoyed Ross and his painting lessons for their snark value.
—
Randy McMullen,
Mercury News,
4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for bare-bones
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bare-bones
Adjective
-
Already, reports of sparse crowds have marred the Freedom 250’s Great American State Fair on the National Mall, the Daily Beast said.
-
In North Platte, Nebraska, vegetation is much sparser with drier soils.
Adjective
-
Vine also reported that Buckingham Palace had offered the couple a royal residence for the Sussex family to use during their trip — but that the offer had yet to be be accepted, with mere days before their arrival.
-
But this latest serious news from VW can’t be dismissed as a mere wrinkle.
Adjective
-
There will be two 15-minute periods of extra time if the match ends in a draw, with a short break in between.
-
If stress builds, schedule a short stretch break and set softer deadlines where possible, because kindness to your body supports reliable output.
Adjective
-
But the slim, minimal design works perfectly with most casual outfits.
-
Abraham, the front-seat passenger whose involvement in the actual crime was minimal, served a little less than two years and was released in 2001.
Cite this Entry
“Bare-bones.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bare-bones. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
