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 Now, Comfrt has a core network of 500 content creators who make videos about the brand, and its bare-bones operation has grown to 140 full-time employees on payroll. — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 2 Aug. 2026 Last season, Carrick had the unenviable task of divvying up minutes across a bare-bones schedule. — Cerys Jones, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026 Together with engineer Dirk MacLeod, in 2015 Nakogee began hashing out the details of a bare-bones version of the system. — IEEE Spectrum, 30 July 2026 John Cusack is proud that his latest project is the work of a bare-bones crew. — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 25 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
  • But banking on him is also a risk given his poor performance earlier this season, and the sparse starting depth behind him.
    — Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
  • In the warm, nutrient-poor waters of the central Pacific where food is sparse, atolls are like bustling cafés.
    — NPR, NPR, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of sparse
Adjective
  • Video from his dash camera shows the aircraft gliding under a highway sign, missing it by mere feet, before touching down in the empty lanes.
    — Aaron Cooper, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
  • In his music, Belafonte sought to honor his Caribbean heritage—he was born in Harlem to Jamaican parents in 1927—without being reduced to a mere exotic persona.
    — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of mere
Adjective
  • The Duchess of Sussex paired her polished bottoms with a tan, lightweight short-sleeve sweater and added an understated pop of color with purple suede loafers.
    — Kaitlin Clapinski, InStyle, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The Nobel Prize Museum, National Museum, and Royal Palace are all within a short walk, as are many great restaurants.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of short
Adjective
  • These capabilities strengthen the solution’s ability to operate with minimal human intervention while further reducing risk to Soldiers.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 1 Aug. 2026
  • And by extension, the significance of this Chicago Bears drive from their third non-padded training camp practice might feel minimal.
    — Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of minimal

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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 8 Aug. 2026.

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