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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Recent Examples of bare-bones
Popular national parks in the Bay Area such as Alcatraz, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Point Reyes National Seashore remain open during the shutdown, though some of the larger open-air parks will offer bare-bones services.
—
Martha Ross, Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2025
The only sign of him having made this lonely place a home beyond bare-bones essentials is a patch of delicate white flowers that give the film its title, later revealed to be the same bloom cultivated by his father.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 28 Sep. 2025
During the 2018 shutdown, some 80 percent of Park Service employees were furloughed; however, many of the country’s most iconic parks remained open, managed by a bare-bones crew.
—Owen Clarke, Outside, 26 Sep. 2025
Its experts know that identifying the factors influencing home prices goes beyond bare-bones data like bedroom or bathroom counts.
—Mary Beth Eastman, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bare-bones
Martha Ross, Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2025
The only sign of him having made this lonely place a home beyond bare-bones essentials is a patch of delicate white flowers that give the film its title, later revealed to be the same bloom cultivated by his father.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 28 Sep. 2025
During the 2018 shutdown, some 80 percent of Park Service employees were furloughed; however, many of the country’s most iconic parks remained open, managed by a bare-bones crew.
—Owen Clarke, Outside, 26 Sep. 2025
Its experts know that identifying the factors influencing home prices goes beyond bare-bones data like bedroom or bathroom counts.
—Mary Beth Eastman, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bare-bones
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bare-bones
Adjective
-
Jessica Knackert, a Milwaukee wildlife educator and biologist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, said one reason is that foliage where coyotes like to conceal themselves becomes sparse at this time of year, as trees lose their leaves and snow starts to fall.—
Kelli Arseneau,
jsonline.com,
6 Nov. 2025
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Carson crafts a sparse and reflective modern reimagining that deals with abuse, love and ultimately growth into adulthood.—
Amber McBride,
Literary Hub,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Most companies fail to realize that true advantage with AI and other transformative technologies comes not from mere adoption but from reinvention—rethinking business models, value creation, and organizational architecture.—
John Winsor,
Harvard Business Review,
10 Nov. 2025
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Approving drilling here mere weeks before the start of COP30 in the city of Belém — known as the gateway to the Amazon — presents tricky optics for Brazil, which is trying to walk a tightrope between environmental champion and fossil fuel power.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Pierre was short, with a white beard and flamboyant wild hair.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
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These bacteria ferment or break down prebiotics, releasing compounds called short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs).—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The traditional venture model rewards fast-scaling, low-capital businesses, such as software companies, that can grow quickly with minimal overhead.—
Mike Palank,
Fortune,
5 Nov. 2025
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Its electric power delivers a quieter, emissions-free flight with minimal costs than conventional aircraft.—
Michael Verdon,
Robb Report,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bare-bones.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bare-bones. Accessed 17 Nov. 2025.
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