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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
  • While that shutdown ostensibly ended in mid-November, a partial government shutdown dragged on through April, snarling the Department of Homeland Security and causing long delays and confusion at airports across the country.
    — Drew Pittock, USA Today, 23 July 2026
  • But this year, the measure has become snarled in tensions over defense spending levels and the SAVE America Act.
    — Chantelle Lee, Time, 22 July 2026
Definition of snarl
Noun
  • Choosing the right ship, however, is only one part of creating an exceptional journey.
    — Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 24 July 2026
  • The president’s claim came after Houthi rebels targeted Saudi ships in the Red Sea.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 24 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 shooting of Fuentes Zambrano cannot be seen on the footage, but a woman’s screams and four additional shots can be heard, per the complaint.
    — Ben Brachfeld, PEOPLE, 22 July 2026
  • The key is to train the mind to relax, just chill, even though somebody’s at the doorbell, even though somebody’s walking into the kitchen, little kids screaming through the house.
    — Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 20 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
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bark.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bark. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on bark

Nglish: Translation of bark for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bark

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of itinerant

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
chain-question-mark
Missing Link Quiz July 2026 Five seconds to figure out the word that fits bot...
See All