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 Truck is a bare-bones two-seat electric pickup that’s smaller than a Ford Maverick. — ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026 In somewhat bare-bones, cozy settings, Red Lobster became a middle-class family destination, and was welcoming to Black customers at a time when segregation, while outlawed, was still common in much of the American South. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026 The Iranian government has been forced to implement sweeping cost-cutting measures, which were reflected in Pezeshkian’s bare-bones visit. — Robin Wright, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2026 Unlike most bare-bones seafood shacks, there’s real table service here, with smiling, friendly servers, to boot. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Sep. 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 Season Eight winner pulled her tight red curls into a high bun, allowing a few sparse curls to escape and trail down her face.
    — Arushi Jacob, Footwear News, 10 Nov. 2026
  • A couple of decades on, Skepta, another of the grime scene’s early architects, borrows the same icy palette and sparse arrangement for a different account.
    — Will Pritchard, Pitchfork, 9 Nov. 2026
Definition of sparse
Adjective
  • What readers are saying The comments express strong criticism of Israeli settler violence, with many labeling it as terrorism or ethnic cleansing rather than mere extremism.
    — Steve Hendrix, Washington Post, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Cylburn Arboretum has not only a spectacular collection of maple trees in full glory but also a striking stone sculpture of a samara set in the ground, mere footsteps from the Vollmer Center.
    — Carl R. Gold, Baltimore Sun, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of mere
Adjective
  • The Rams still managed to rack up 513 yards of offense on the Broncos, including several big plays in which a Rams receiver was wide open, or several Bronco defenders missed tackles that turned a short gain into a big play.
    — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Even short funding interruptions can alter a young scientist’s career.
    — Carole LaBonne, Washington Post, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of short
Adjective
  • Ethanol can run in existing methanol engines and use current methanol bunkering infrastructure with minimal modifications, according to a study released Wednesday by the Maritime Ethanol & Methanol Alliance (MEMA).
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 12 Nov. 2026
  • There's just enough going on to keep one's brain engaged, but minimal inputs and a tight overarching design lead to a rhythm that's easy to get into without using much brainpower.
    — Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 12 Nov. 2026
Definition of minimal

Browse Nearby Words

bare
bare-bones
bared
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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 Nov. 2026.

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