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 At Dadeland North, an existing trail connection behind the station garage that was part of the old M-Path, the bare-bones track that the Underline replaced, is blocked off during construction. — Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026 After devastating fire seasons in 2017 and 2018, private insurers began rapidly dropping customers, pushing more than 500,000 homeowners onto the state’s costly, bare-bones insurer of last resort. — Mira Rojanasakul, New York Times, 16 July 2026 Other issues, including bare-bones Medicare coverage for addiction care, must be fixed by Congress. — Isabella Cueto, STAT, 14 July 2026 The bare-bones statement from the FIFA disciplinary committee did not explain why Balogun's suspension would be delayed. — Becky Sullivan, NPR, 6 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for bare-bones
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bare-bones
  1. sparse
  2. mere
  3. short
  4. minimal
Adjective
  • Zavagnin, however, saw the seeds of what soccer could become in KC, even while playing in front of sparse crowds.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 24 July 2026
  • Still, many earlier simulation systems created rooms that felt sparse.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 23 July 2026
Definition of sparse
Adjective
  • The resort sits a mere ten minutes from Inverness, making Cabot Highlands an ideal place to base a golf trip to the Scottish Highlands from, offering on-site lodging.
    — Zach Schenfisch, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
  • Vast swaths of time unfold in mere voiceover, and some investigations and proclamations feel repetitive, as the film reinforces its point ad nauseam.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 20 July 2026
Definition of mere
Adjective
  • The short summer nights (and this week’s first quarter moon) may make faint aurora harder to see, with lingering twilight reducing the contrast required to spot a glow low on the northern horizon.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • Despite falling just short in the final, Argentina come in third at 11 percent, highlighting how highly they are still regarded heading into the next four-year cycle.
    — Dean Jones, New York Times, 20 July 2026
Definition of short
Adjective
  • Nolan's non-linear storytelling and minimal exposition challenge some, yet the visual grandeur and powerful performances, including Anne Hathaway's Penelope and a diverse ensemble, are undeniable.
    — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
  • While some studies have suggested extreme weather events can drive support for climate action, many others have shown minimal effect.
    — Justin Worland, Time, 18 July 2026
Definition of minimal

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bare-bones
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Cite this Entry

“Bare-bones.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bare-bones. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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