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
The golden doodles would always bark when someone approached the house, said Ashley’s father, Todd Smith. — Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2026 This is like an old-school hot rod moment, where guys in the parking lot would bark about their big-blocks. — Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 24 Sep. 2026
Noun
Damaged Bark Lawn mowers, strimmers, and snowplows can take a major toll on tree health – especially if tree bark is peeled away in large chunks. — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 28 Sep. 2026 Shadow details, like the textures of tree bark and animal fur in the shade, or the cuts and contours of black suit jackets, stay intact when watching in a dark room. — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 28 Sep. 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
  • Kerry McCoy’s guitar juices up a mid-song gallop by abruptly pivoting from big and noisy to compressed and snarling; at the climax, everything cuts out for a second to spotlight a Daniel Tracy drum fill.
    — Patrick Lyons, Pitchfork, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Stepping into the band’s lead guitarist role was Nick Johnston, a forceful presence delivering crisp musical phrases that could be fittingly elegant or snarling.
    — Steve Appleford, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of snarl
Noun
  • Navy officials initially said leadership had not observed an increase in suicidal ideations or attempts aboard the ship.
    — Mosheh Gains, NBC news, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The ministry said that port and ship repair facilities in the southern Odesa region and ships carrying cargo for the Ukrainian military were also hit.
    — SAMYA KULLAB, Arkansas Online, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of ship
Verb
  • The interiors, meanwhile, never shout but still seem to wow with luxe Mediterranean touches and tasteful art.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026
  • News of their separation had been made public earlier this year when LaBeouf was arrested in New Orleans for two charges of simple battery where he was eventually given probation despite allegedly also harassing locals and shouting homophobic slurs.
    — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of shout
Noun
  • Yves Saint Laurent’s legendary fete on a four-masted schooner in New York City to mark the launch of Opium is still talked about by industry veterans today.
    — Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The schooner also has the same sail plan (or arrangement) as its predecessor, sitting at about 18,800 square feet.
    — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of schooner
Verb
  • During one middle school mariachi practice, an instructor encourages a girl to come out of her shell and yell excitedly.
    — Jessica Hill, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The HomeView can also share intercom-style broadcasts to any other room equipped with smart speakers, sparing you the need to yell up the stairs when dinner is ready.
    — Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of yell
Noun
  • In September, a Russian frigate off the coast of Denmark fired two flares at a Danish military helicopter, one of which came dangerously close to hitting the aircraft.
    — Julianne Smith, Foreign Affairs, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Malta, Cyprus, and Ireland have their own naval forces, but not the sort of frigates or destroyers needed for high-threat escort operations.
    — Anna Mulrine Grobe, Christian Science Monitor, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of frigate
Verb
  • In June 2016, Blair, who was returning to Los Angeles from a vacation in Cancun, Mexico, began screaming uncontrollably and causing chaos on the flight.
    — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Back in California, Dodgers fans screamed at their television sets.
    — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of scream
Noun
  • The new 280-footer, currently known as Project 410, will become the world’s largest sloop upon launch.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Sailing aboard a 30-foot sloop on Acapulco Bay, Henry Kissinger kept a protective arm around his new wife, as a motorboat filled with the press corps followed.
    — Robert D. Mcfadden, Chicago Tribune, 21 Aug. 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 14 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on bark

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bark

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