as in deserts
land that is uninhabited or not fit for crops
lived out in the barrens where it was impossible to grow anything
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Recent Examples of barrens
The forests are marked by sparse conifer stands, woodlands, herbaceous vegetation, and unvegetated barrens that dominate the transition to Arctic tundra.
—
Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 10 Feb. 2026
The population surge caused widespread urchin barrens across the islands.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 12 Dec. 2025
Given the surrounding terrain, largely comprising volcanic barrens and lava fields, the risk of wildfire remains low, and no life-threatening impacts have been identified.
—Isabel Van Brugen, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025
Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 10 Feb. 2026
The population surge caused widespread urchin barrens across the islands.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 12 Dec. 2025
Given the surrounding terrain, largely comprising volcanic barrens and lava fields, the risk of wildfire remains low, and no life-threatening impacts have been identified.
—Isabel Van Brugen, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for barrens
deserts
Noun
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California’s beaches, mountains, deserts, and vineyards attract hundreds of millions of visitors each year, leading many vacationers to dream of spending their golden years in the Golden State.—
Patricia Doherty,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Feb. 2026
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Helmed by Óliver Laxe and set against the backdrop of a fast-brewing global conflict, SIRĀT follows a father (Sergi López) and his young son in search of his missing daughter alongside a group of ravers in the deserts of southern Morocco.—
Kyle Denis,
Billboard,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Barrens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/barrens. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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