bark 1 of 3

Definition of barknext
as in to peel
to remove the natural covering of barking a tree will probably kill it

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bark

2 of 3

verb (2)

as in to snarl
to speak sharply or irritably the new supervisor found that speaking to people with a civil tongue got better results than barking at them

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

bark

3 of 3

noun

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 bark
Verb
Like a quarterback reading the defensive coverage before the snap, Nikola Jokic barked orders to his teammates. Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 16 Jan. 2026 On Saturday morning, the center received a report of barking from a remote canyon roughly a mile from where Lana was last seen. Erin Clements, PEOPLE, 14 Jan. 2026
Noun
Its bark contains a protective sticky aromatic resin, and its needles are dense with a similar wax-like coating. Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 20 Jan. 2026 Trim away any brown or mushy roots and repot the orchid in a fresh potting mix of large bark chunks and perlite that drains well. Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 20 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bark
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bark
Noun
  • Combined with the capacity to handle multiple ships in a single day, those factors help explain why Bergen continues to lead Norway’s cruise statistics.
    David Nikel, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
  • Comprehensive battlefield situational awareness China Central Television reported that a confrontation-style drill between surface ships and submarines was held at an undisclosed location in the South China Sea.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 23 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • When the schooner was just off the coast of El Salvador, a tramp steamer spotted them and finally supplied fresh water.
    Michael Waters, New Yorker, 3 Jan. 2026
  • Ella is shocked to suddenly find Nick (Brown), a sailor and local Newport historian, aboard her schooner and accuses him of being a stowaway.
    Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • Japan has long banned arms exports but has significantly eased restrictions in recent years and is now developing next-generation fighter jets with the UK and Italy while finalizing a deal to sell frigates to Australia.
    Mari Yamaguchi, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2025
  • Destroyers, frigates, fighter jets and bombers also carried out simulated strikes on maritime targets.
    Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 30 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • Now as sailors stepped out into the surf, a great crowd tried to take oars off the first sloop.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
  • Anguilla's rich sailing history comes alive while exploring the island's coastline on a classic Caribbean sloop.
    Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 28 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • Their $500 million mega yacht, Koru, was anchored nearby, but the couple reportedly spent most of their time on land.
    Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 6 Jan. 2026
  • The Coral Gables man operating the boat that ran over and killed a 15-year-old girl wakeboarding behind a yacht in Biscayne Bay pleaded guilty to misdemeanor careless-boating charges Monday in a Miami-Dade County court.
    Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 6 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Nguyen was among those refugees, crowding as a teen on a dinghy heading for international waters.
    Todd Harmonson, Oc Register, 18 Dec. 2025
  • Dock the dinghy at Bar One to enjoy a frozen cocktail or an ice-cold beer at this floating bar anchored offshore.
    Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 1 Dec. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Bark.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bark. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.

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