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 Two couples, one dinner party — that’s the bare-bones basis of The Invite, an adaptation of the 2020 Spanish movie The People Upstairs that feels tailor-made to be franchised, translated to just about any language, and transposed onto just about any upper-middle-class milieu. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 26 June 2026 But the extra costs from their bare-bones insurance plan are squeezing their household finances. — Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 25 June 2026 But the rub is that the Truck is fairly bare-bones. — Sara Lacey, The Drive, 25 June 2026 The Sound Recorder app also replaces Windows 10’s bare-bones Voice Recorder. — Michael Muchmore, PC Magazine, 23 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
  • Traffic through the strait has been sparse since March but showed slight recovery during the roughly three weeks that a ceasefire lasted between the United States and Iran.
    — Erin Mansfield, USA Today, 15 July 2026
  • She’s represented here by a woman dematerializing headfirst, seemingly outlived only by her pendulous breasts, and a sparse landscape where a spectral figure peeks up from the bottom edge.
    — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 15 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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Cite this Entry

“Bare-bones.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bare-bones. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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