NO-FRILLS Synonyms: 19 Similar and Opposite Words

no-frills

adjective

ˈnō-ˈfrilz

Definition of no-frills

as in spartan

providing only the essentials and nothing fancy or luxurious a low-cost, no-frills vacation during which we camped out and cooked our own meals

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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 no-frills That helps reinforce hair’s internal structure so strands are stronger and less prone to breakage—and beyond that, the four-ingredient formula is no-frills. — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 6 Oct. 2026 The Alienware 24 monitor is a no-frills Fast IPS screen with good color quality and brightness, but the real draw here is its responsiveness. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 6 Oct. 2026 The University of California Cooperative Extension set up a no-frills website called Match. — Ingfei Chen, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2026 Despite being relatively minimal compared to today’s top running shoes, the Zoom Skylon 11 manages to pack a fair amount of tech in an otherwise no-frills build. — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for no-frills

Recent Examples of Synonyms for no-frills

Adjective

Even the most spartan features of the airport get a splash of creativity.

— Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Oct. 2026
And the narrative that Iran will just collapse because there is no new money coming in from oil is antithetical to this extreme regime, which prides itself on a spartan life.

— Jim Cramer, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of spartan

Adjective

The actor wore a long black leather coat over a simple black tank, paired with straight-leg blue jeans cinched with a leather belt.

— Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2026
The company played with flexible workdays instead of rigid schedules, clearer windows for collaboration, simpler rules for meetings, better ways to share and document work, and more intentional reasons for coming together in person.

— Deborah Lovich, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of simple

Adjective

Housed inside the austere modernist facade by architect John Moutoussamy, the interiors — the work of Palm Springs designers Arthur Elrod and William Raiser — were never renovated or changed.

— Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2026
One of the best parts of today’s bridal era is that many to-be-weds are choosing to do a mix of both—changing from a more austere, classic wedding dress for the ceremony to flirty, boundary-pushing styles as the night continues.

— Shelby Wax, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of austere

Browse Nearby Words

noetic

no-frills

noggin

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“No-frills.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/no-frills. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of no-frills

adjective

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