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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 no-frills Where to stay Perrched 4,593 feet up the Hachimantai plateau is this no-frills traditional onsen hotel. Rob Goss, AFAR Media, 26 Aug. 2025 Traditionally, the announcement of the Kennedy Center Honors is a low-key affair — recipients are normally revealed each summer with a no-frills press release. Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 20 Aug. 2025 This no-frills recipe will be the star of any weekend breakfast. Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 18 Aug. 2025 This no-frills coffee maker is easy to use. Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for no-frills
Recent Examples of Synonyms for no-frills
Adjective
  • The Long Walk uses the rawness of its spartan premise to venture deep into uncomfortable territory, culminating in an ending that blurs the lines between perseverance and defeat, hope and nihilism.
    James Grebey, Time, 12 Sep. 2025
  • But this new 86-footer, stripped of its predecessors’ bling, is more of a spartan, minimalist explorer, with transatlantic potential.
    Tristan Rutherford, Robb Report, 8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Their simple plan goes awry when one of their relatives wants a posh Korean wedding banquet in the heartfelt romantic comedy.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
  • The inspiration The Copleys wanted a low-water garden that would be simple to care for.
    Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Due to his austere and detached manner, he is known to immediately inspire awe in his patients.
    Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Property tax rates are flat in the budget, which now includes far fewer cuts than the more austere spending plan Levine Cava first proposed in July.
    Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“No-frills.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/no-frills. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

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!