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
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Recent Examples of barks
Literary Hub, 12 May 2026
Foxes use a variety of calls, including barks, howls, yaps, and growls.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2026
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
Two holiday barks sold at Aldi have been recalled nationwide.
—Jenna Anderson, Health, 1 Dec. 2025
Sara Holdren, Vulture, 20 May 2026
Much like a dog that barks at every little noise and passerby, my skin is reactive.
—Devon Abelman, Allure, 24 Apr. 2026
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
Noun
Caspar David Friedrich has sketchbooks of particular branches, twigs, barks of different trees.
—Literary Hub, 12 May 2026
Foxes use a variety of calls, including barks, howls, yaps, and growls.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2026
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
Two holiday barks sold at Aldi have been recalled nationwide.
—Jenna Anderson, Health, 1 Dec. 2025
Verb
Mac barks at Andi as the two of them drive home.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 20 May 2026
Much like a dog that barks at every little noise and passerby, my skin is reactive.
—Devon Abelman, Allure, 24 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for barks
Noun
-
More than 130 ships turned around after being ordered to do so, CENTCOM said.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
11 June 2026
-
In practical terms, according to a person familiar with the discussions surrounding the new requirement, ships may need to use armed security teams on board or equipment designed to prevent hijackings, kidnappings or robberies.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
Burden of Justice peels back the polished surface of Stockholm’s elite law firms to reveal a world where desperation, ambition, and moral compromise simmer just beneath the surface.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
8 June 2026
-
Blending sharp humor, irreverent games and unexpected twists, each episode peels back the polished layers of today’s most talked about talent to reveal the human behind the fame… and no topic is off-limits.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
The officer spots the suspect and shouts at him to get his hands out of his pockets.—
Meg Oliver,
CBS News,
20 Nov. 2025
-
Greta Lee and Timothée Chalamet are both partial to the New York City Ballet hat, while Kaia Gerber cheekily shouts out Cole Escola.—
Hannah Jackson,
Vogue,
19 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Down, in particular, is given to posting on Instagram aspects of the high life—Ibiza, Gstaad, yachts—that aren’t traditionally enjoyed by many television writers.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
8 Dec. 2025
-
Plans include two major expeditions per year—one cold-water and one warm-water—along with visits to major cities and remote destinations inaccessible to most yachts.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
8 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Fieri yells in the next clip as Jesser swipes above his head to try to block his shot in an inflatable basketball game.—
Chiara Kim,
PEOPLE,
9 June 2026
-
Knives are clutched, teeth are clenched, and a desperate Russian ex-pat yells loud enough for their long-dead ancestors to hear all the way back in the motherland.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
While that’s not deep enough for container ships or aircraft carriers, DeJesus said the potential draw is for small-market ships like frigates or mine sweepers.—
HECTOR AMEZCUA,
Sacbee.com,
4 Dec. 2025
-
The first Type 26 frigates are still being built, meaning the joint fleet will not start patrols until the late 2020s or early 2030s.—
Ellie Cook,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The Nets might be there to inspire Dillon Brooks snarls.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
19 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The event will feature some 40 wooden-hull vessels ranging from powerboats to sailboats and custom wooden craft.—
Samantha Gowen,
Oc Register,
1 June 2026
-
The snowy season also allows for Nordic skiing, downhill skiing, ice fishing, and ice boating, when sailboats on metal runners glide on the frozen lake.—
Katy Spratte Joyce,
Travel + Leisure,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Barks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/barks. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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