bark 1 of 3

verb (1)

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)

ˈbärk How to pronounce bark (audio)
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

bark

3 of 3

noun

as in ship
a boat equipped with one or more sails took a small bark out on the lake

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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 bark
Verb
Days or weeks passed, but then the dog barked, the mail carrier tramped onto the porch, the mailbox clattered. — Literary Hub, 13 July 2026 Early sips are big on citrus (specifically pomelo and lemon) and herbal tea, alongside lighter elements of cedar and birch barks. — David Thomas Tao, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
Noun
Straw and shredded wood fit and lock together better than smooth bark nuggets or rubber mulch. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 10 July 2026 The nutrient-rich formula features willow bark extract that is powerful enough to prevent flakiness and is effective at preventing inflammation. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for bark
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bark
  1. snarl
  2. ship
  3. shout
  4. schooner
  5. yell
  6. frigate
  7. scream
  8. sloop
Verb
  • Meanwhile, Argentina is a snarling team full of passion-merchants.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 16 July 2026
  • Each time, as the dog snarled and jumped backward, the bear would rear again with his back against the tree trunk, swinging his mighty paws in front of him as though daring Drive to come within reach.
    — Frank C. Hibben, Outdoor Life, 15 July 2026
Definition of snarl
Noun
  • Before the war, an average of about 110 ships transited the strait daily.
    — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
  • The ship overcame the engine failure and continued flying toward a pinpoint water landing in the Indian Ocean, but SpaceX had to skip an attempt to reignite a Raptor engine in space.
    — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 17 July 2026
Definition of ship
Verb
  • In a separate video, others were heard shouting at the TSA agent, questioning whether something would be done about the incident.
    — Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
  • The dialogue, meanwhile, is played hilariously straight — good luck finding a laugh among these uncharted stars — and often consists of someone shouting another character's name.
    — Richard Edwards, Space.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of shout
Noun
  • One fishing vessel on view recalls the grisly story of Howard Blackburn, a Gloucester fisherman who went out as part of a big schooner to the Grand Banks.
    — Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
  • Get out on the water in a different way with Traverse Tall Ship Company, offering tours aboard the biggest tall ship on Lake Michigan, the 114-foot schooner Manitou.
    — Robert Annis, Midwest Living, 24 June 2026
Definition of schooner
Verb
  • On Thursday morning, a man broke into the Today studio in Rockefeller Plaza and yelled racial slurs at host Craig Melvin.
    — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 17 July 2026
  • The intruder allegedly confronted co-host Craig Melvin, yelling racial slurs.
    — Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026
Definition of yell
Noun
  • According to the officials, Pakistan Navy frigate PNS Zulfiqar was dispatched to the area where contact with the aircraft was lost.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 July 2026
  • Germany has decided to acquire eight MEKO A-200 warships from ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), in place of six vessels under the F126 frigate program.
    — Abhishek Bhardwaj, Interesting Engineering, 25 June 2026
Definition of frigate
Verb
  • The straw materials practically scream summer, crafted to go with all of your beach looks this season.
    — Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 15 July 2026
  • Usher went on to remove his leather jacket to reveal a sculpted bare torso, to screams of delight from much of the audience.
    — Simon Vozick-Levinson, Rolling Stone, 13 July 2026
Definition of scream
Noun
  • Just two days after the Hannah was underway, her crew captured the Unity, a sloop loaded with naval stores and lumber, supplies sorely needed by British forces in Boston.
    — Christopher Magra, The Conversation, 2 June 2026
  • Palm Beach Motor Yachts has taken its supermaxi sloop to new heights—quite literally.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 24 Feb. 2026
Definition of sloop

Browse Nearby Words

baring
bark
barked
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Cite this Entry

“Bark.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bark. Accessed 21 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on bark

Nglish: Translation of bark for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bark

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