1
as in grim
harsh and threatening in manner or appearance
stark and forbidding mountains that the settlers knew that they would have to cross
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sheer
having no exceptions or restrictions
the school's stark prohibition against obscene slogans on clothing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in devoid
lacking contents that could or should be present
house buyers trying to imagine what those stark rooms would look like when filled with furniture
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in desolate
producing inferior or only a small amount of vegetation
a once-lush landscape rendered depressingly stark by strip-mining and deforestation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in spartan
providing only the essentials and nothing fancy or luxurious
monks who have committed themselves to living in stark cells and working and praying in silence
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stark
In short, the AI backlash has grown immensely over the past year or so — and the latest numbers put the trend in stark relief.
—
Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 4 June 2026
The shades popped against her stark white custom Alaïa dress.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 4 June 2026
While Markey and Moulton may not differ much over the issues, there are stark differences between the two men.
—Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 4 June 2026
This is in stark contrast to Chamblas’ opening section, which is full of action, fighting and collision.
—Steven Vargas, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for stark
Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 4 June 2026
The shades popped against her stark white custom Alaïa dress.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 4 June 2026
While Markey and Moulton may not differ much over the issues, there are stark differences between the two men.
—Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 4 June 2026
This is in stark contrast to Chamblas’ opening section, which is full of action, fighting and collision.
—Steven Vargas, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for stark
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stark
Adjective
-
The world may have looked grim in what was also a penultimate week before elections, when the focus becomes necessarily not on joy but misery, the political premise being the winning candidate is the one who makes the electorate the angriest.—
Mark Swed,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2026
-
The combination of factors threatens to make what is a grim situation worse.—
Prashant Rao,
semafor.com,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
Visitors passing through the imposing glass doors of FamilySearch Library on Salt Lake City’s Temple Square are likely to pause at the sheer size of the five-story, 135,000-square-foot archive, which houses the largest collection of genealogical data in the world.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 June 2026
-
The Skims founder opted for a daring sheer black lace corset tank top paired with light-wash jeans with horsebit buckle details on the hips for the outing.—
Meg Walters,
InStyle,
6 June 2026
Adjective
-
Well it’s expected to make some big box office bucks this weekend, but sadly this reboot, simply called once again Scary Movie, is surprisingly devoid of many laughs.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
4 June 2026
-
Although service is not quite polished, the happy-go-lucky Dutch-Caribbean staff are refreshingly devoid of attitude.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
Since the Bankhead and Livermore Cinema opened, a number of popular restaurants – including Zachary’s Pizza, Sauced BBQ and Spirits and Locanda Wine Bar have transformed a once-desolate block into a buzzing culinary destination.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
4 June 2026
-
Just under 300,000 years from the moment Homo sapiens appeared in Africa, the species had encircled Earth, mastering desolate deserts and frozen wastelands and all the temperate climes in between.—
Cody Cottier,
Scientific American,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
My take → For a $16 billion company, PR has a shockingly spartan website.—
Brian Sullivan,
CNBC,
3 June 2026
-
The service, though less than efficient, is delivered with unfailing Midwestern goodwill; rooms are spartan but have pampering touches such as heated bathroom floors and beds as soft as ermine.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
Platner, a gruff 41-year-old Marine Corps veteran, is trying to unseat Republican Senator Susan Collins with a platform of economic populism, universal health care, labor protections, and anti-interventionism.—
Elizabeth Bruenig,
The Atlantic,
4 June 2026
-
With his gruff voice, beard and sweatshirts-instead-of-suits, Platner cuts the figure of a blue-collar Mainer.—
Caroline McCaughey,
Boston Herald,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
The actor, 39, pleaded guilty to three misdemeanor counts of simple battery in a Louisiana criminal court Wednesday, June 3, according to records obtained by USA TODAY.—
Liza Esquibias,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
-
At the time, the New Orleans Police Department confirmed its officers charged LaBeouf with two counts of simple battery for allegedly assaulting two men near a bar in the French Quarter.—
Alexandra Del Rosario,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
The riskiest habit is preheating an empty nonstick pan on high heat.—
Ryan Brennan
June 2,
Sacbee.com,
3 June 2026
-
The dog paces to and fro, hackles bristling, snapping at the empty air, its head turning one way, then the other, as if aware of invisible foes in the valley around them.—
Maggie O’Farrell,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stark.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stark. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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