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
Vast is determined to launch a bare-bones station to orbit as soon as possible, with or without federal input, according to the company.
—
Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 21 Mar. 2026
By Todd Woody, Bloomberg As another wildfire season looms, insurance companies have abandoned some California neighborhoods at lower risk of burning, forcing tens of thousands of homeowners to obtain bare-bones coverage from the state’s insurer of last resort.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2026
In Ray’s bare-bones house, spotless and white and lacking any of the familiar comforts that make Colin’s life with his parents so cozy, there is a guy who reads contemporary auto-fiction who needs little reading glasses to do so.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
The old studio theater had a bare-bones lobby that could only be described as functional, with a temporary bar.
—Jim Higgins, jsonline.com, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bare-bones
Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 21 Mar. 2026
By Todd Woody, Bloomberg As another wildfire season looms, insurance companies have abandoned some California neighborhoods at lower risk of burning, forcing tens of thousands of homeowners to obtain bare-bones coverage from the state’s insurer of last resort.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2026
In Ray’s bare-bones house, spotless and white and lacking any of the familiar comforts that make Colin’s life with his parents so cozy, there is a guy who reads contemporary auto-fiction who needs little reading glasses to do so.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
The old studio theater had a bare-bones lobby that could only be described as functional, with a temporary bar.
—Jim Higgins, jsonline.com, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bare-bones
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bare-bones
Adjective
-
The key detail here is planting density — sparse marigold plantings may still offer benefits, but thick clusters can backfire.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Kansas City Star,
10 Apr. 2026
-
But in the United States, the only reliable access to CAR-T for those patients comes through sparse clinical trials.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Is mere aesthetic shittiness grounds for disqualification?—
Jean Garnett,
New Yorker,
18 Apr. 2026
-
Multiple women came forward with detailed and serious allegations—including specific claims of drugging, rape, and assault—relatively quickly after initial reports, suggesting a verifiable pattern rather than mere unsubstantiated rumor.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Separate legislation called the ROTOR Act that the Senate crafted came up one vote short in the House.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
All those metrics are quickly met in the Ultra Fit class, but vigorous activity comes in many forms, each pushing the body to its limit in a short span of time.—
Jeff Wagner,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The bar is small, minimal, and rooted in a brutalist design philosophy.—
Chris Malloy,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Purchasing decisions can be made in seconds, leaving brands with minimal opportunity to connect authentically, build trust, and feel relevant in the customer’s environment.—
Jarrod Martin,
Fortune,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bare-bones.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bare-bones. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
