as in ships
a boat equipped with one or more sails
took a small bark out on the lake
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in shouts
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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of barks
Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 19 Mar. 2026
One hums with high-speed drills and anxiety; the other echoes with joyful barks and tail wags.
—Henry I. Miller, STAT, 28 Jan. 2026
On our third day, a late-afternoon beach landing on Sante Fe deposited us amid a colony of sleeping sea lions, their barks and coughs reverberating across the sandy shore.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 26 Jan. 2026
That Doberman, the two black Labradors and a standard poodle better watch out for the two Chihuahuas, their barks say.
—Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 23 Dec. 2025
The duo jumped and screamed in celebration, with their dogs joining the fun with a few barks and squeals.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 15 Dec. 2025
Peppermint is a classic option, but the world of chocolate barks is so much broader than just that one flavor.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 12 Dec. 2025
Two holiday barks sold at Aldi have been recalled nationwide.
—Jenna Anderson, Health, 1 Dec. 2025
Kates said the dogs at the home have aggressive barks but had not bitten anyone before.
—Abby Dodge, CBS News, 19 Nov. 2025
Judith Martin, Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2026
The scolding was met with more meows and barks.
—Clara McMichael, ABC News, 15 Apr. 2026
The pup barks excitedly before the door swings open and Koch drops to her knees to receive kisses and greetings.
—Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 14 Apr. 2026
Sadie excitedly barks before the door opens and Koch drops to her knees to receive kisses and greetings from the pup.
—Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2026
Heck, even our beloved pup, Dale, barks whenever a squirrel’s hiding in the networking hardware!
—Jed Feiman, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
On these tracks Slayyyter uses her voice as a much blunter instrument than before, paring back the melisma and amping up the chants, barks, and outright screams.
—Harry Tafoya, Pitchfork, 2 Apr. 2026
In Network, Sidney Lumet cast Duvall as Frank Hackett, a broadcast television executive who barks about his lack of principles loudly and often.
—Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 27 Feb. 2026
And perhaps some—Ho Jin just barks at him to take it all and grumbles that Ji Seon is a bad influence.
—Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Noun
And while humans can often discern animal distress calls or differentiate dog barks, many animal noises may seem inconsequential to the untrained human ear.
—Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 19 Mar. 2026
One hums with high-speed drills and anxiety; the other echoes with joyful barks and tail wags.
—Henry I. Miller, STAT, 28 Jan. 2026
On our third day, a late-afternoon beach landing on Sante Fe deposited us amid a colony of sleeping sea lions, their barks and coughs reverberating across the sandy shore.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 26 Jan. 2026
That Doberman, the two black Labradors and a standard poodle better watch out for the two Chihuahuas, their barks say.
—Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 23 Dec. 2025
The duo jumped and screamed in celebration, with their dogs joining the fun with a few barks and squeals.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 15 Dec. 2025
Peppermint is a classic option, but the world of chocolate barks is so much broader than just that one flavor.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 12 Dec. 2025
Two holiday barks sold at Aldi have been recalled nationwide.
—Jenna Anderson, Health, 1 Dec. 2025
Kates said the dogs at the home have aggressive barks but had not bitten anyone before.
—Abby Dodge, CBS News, 19 Nov. 2025
Verb
Meanwhile, the same neighbor’s dog barks at all hours, day and night, and a large shoe rack sits outside her door — an eyesore and a fire code violation.
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2026
The scolding was met with more meows and barks.
—Clara McMichael, ABC News, 15 Apr. 2026
The pup barks excitedly before the door swings open and Koch drops to her knees to receive kisses and greetings.
—Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 14 Apr. 2026
Sadie excitedly barks before the door opens and Koch drops to her knees to receive kisses and greetings from the pup.
—Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2026
Heck, even our beloved pup, Dale, barks whenever a squirrel’s hiding in the networking hardware!
—Jed Feiman, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
On these tracks Slayyyter uses her voice as a much blunter instrument than before, paring back the melisma and amping up the chants, barks, and outright screams.
—Harry Tafoya, Pitchfork, 2 Apr. 2026
In Network, Sidney Lumet cast Duvall as Frank Hackett, a broadcast television executive who barks about his lack of principles loudly and often.
—Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 27 Feb. 2026
And perhaps some—Ho Jin just barks at him to take it all and grumbles that Ji Seon is a bad influence.
—Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for barks
Noun
-
That means that all of the Navy ships currently in the Middle East can play a role in enforcing a blockade.—
Luis Martinez,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
In response, Iranian officials have publicly threatened to sink American ships and stop transit through a second major waterway, the Red Sea.—
Joe Walsh,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Or, if shopping isn’t your preferred vacation activity, take the bike to the nearby Intracoastal Waterway and traverse on Palm Beach Lake Trail, a bike- and pedestrian-friendly path that abuts the water’s edge that is lined with docked yachts.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Apr. 2026
-
That is not exactly surprising, given McKeon has designed more than 200 vessels, most of them sailing yachts.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The number of vessels in the Royal Navy fleet, including aircraft carriers, destroyers frigates and submarines has fallen from 166 in 1975 to 66 in 2025, according to The Associated Press' analysis of figures from the Ministry of Defense and the House of Commons Library.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The number of vessels in the Royal Navy fleet, including aircraft carriers, destroyers frigates and submarines has fallen from 166 in 1975 to 66 in 2025, according to the Associated Press’ analysis of figures from the Ministry of Defense and the House of Commons Library.—
Pan Pylas,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The abundance of teak also recalls traditional sailboats.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The tranquil, turquoise waters of this part of Virgin Gorda are ideal for yachts and sailboats, which stake out a spot here for a night or two.—
Carley Rojas Avila,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Barks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/barks. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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