bare-bones

adjective

Definition of bare-bonesnext
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.

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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 The Sound Recorder app also replaces Windows 10’s bare-bones Voice Recorder. — Michael Muchmore, PC Magazine, 23 June 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for bare-bones
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bare-bones
  1. sparse
  2. mere
  3. short
  4. minimal
Adjective
  • The foundation’s website is sparse, featuring a short mission statement, three stated goals, a donation button, and Pratt’s name.
    — Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 8 July 2026
  • Her efforts turned the exhibit into a showcase of Massachusetts products and culture instead of one of the sparse displays found elsewhere at the fair.
    — Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 4 July 2026
Definition of sparse
Adjective
  • Boundary pushing, she became known for songs that were 90 seconds long; her eight-song album, Fancy That, is a mere 20 minutes long.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 13 July 2026
  • Many companies resist due to inertia, mistakenly viewing leadership as universal or cross-cultural skills as mere etiquette.
    — Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
Definition of mere
Adjective
  • Argentina, on the shorter side physically, have relied on occupying the middle of the box and targeting the near post from either side.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 14 July 2026
  • Despite the short appearance, Caglianone was crowned as a future superstar and someone to watch moving forward.
    — Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 14 July 2026
Definition of short
Adjective
  • Santos’ approach to the game contains mild thrills and minimal spills.
    — Carl Anka, New York Times, 10 July 2026
  • Decentralized floating robots FloatForm is a decentralized swarm robotics system that enables small autonomous boats to self-assemble into larger floating structures and reconfigure them with minimal human intervention.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 10 July 2026
Definition of minimal

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Cite this Entry

“Bare-bones.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bare-bones. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.

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