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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sheer
having no exceptions or restrictions
the school's stark prohibition against obscene slogans on clothing
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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
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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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stark
When 71% of Democrats support requiring photo ID to vote, the disconnect between Democratic lawmakers and Democratic voters couldn’t be starker.
—
Julian Baron, Baltimore Sun, 16 Feb. 2026
For those who lived through it, the contrast with this year’s Senate race is stark.
—Gromer Jeffers Jr, Dallas Morning News, 16 Feb. 2026
Yet for the international community, the lesson is equally stark.
—Pegah Banihashemi, Chicago Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
The sleek cabinet design was copied by simpler brands and reproduced repeatedly, often appearing sterile when finished in a stark, high-gloss finish.
—Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stark
Julian Baron, Baltimore Sun, 16 Feb. 2026
For those who lived through it, the contrast with this year’s Senate race is stark.
—Gromer Jeffers Jr, Dallas Morning News, 16 Feb. 2026
Yet for the international community, the lesson is equally stark.
—Pegah Banihashemi, Chicago Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
The sleek cabinet design was copied by simpler brands and reproduced repeatedly, often appearing sterile when finished in a stark, high-gloss finish.
—Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stark
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stark
Adjective
-
One skier is still missing and presumed dead, Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon said at a grim news conference.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
-
And yet the grim scenes had actually started with a gorgeous goal from the Brazilian, jinking inside and finding the far corner with unimaginable ease (below).—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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For something a bit more romantic, grab a set of sheer lace curtains for just $11.—
Shea Simmons,
Southern Living,
14 Feb. 2026
-
The sheer number of potential new species illustrates just how little of Argentina’s deep-sea biodiversity has been explored — and how much there is left to protect.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Banking has become functionally correct but emotionally devoid, with the industry swimming in a sea of sameness.—
Michael Abbott,
Forbes,
19 Mar. 2025
-
That devoid ingredient hindered things exponentially.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
15 Feb. 2024
Adjective
-
While Scarry’s books present such catastrophes with bright colors and good humor, Gomez undermines this cheer by superimposing on the mural a nearly all-black painting of a desolate tent encampment in front of a home destroyed by the Eaton fire.—
Sharon Mizota,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2026
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The clash of beauty and filth is well suited for Brontë’s desolate tale of romance in a tempestuous climate, where Cathy is constantly caught between Victorian propriety and her baser, wilder nature.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Yes, rooms are small, but the furniture and layout maximizes space in smart not spartan ways.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Jan. 2026
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In one corner stood a spartan single bed, in the other a small woodstove.—
Michael Pollan,
The Atlantic,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The characters are well developed and unpredictable—perhaps none more so than John Stone, Nasir’s gruff public-defense attorney.—
Stephanie Bai,
The Atlantic,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Also present was the gruff playwright.—
Classical Music Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
That simple sentiment distills what being a Louisianan is about.—
Carlie Procell,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
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No doubt history would be very different if a citizen’s duty was simple obeyance.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Sage Hill has been trying to knock off Mater Dei for years and come up empty.—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
18 Feb. 2026
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The UConn athletic department acted fast after coach Dan Hurley – and Georgetown coach Ed Cooley – commented on the lack of enthusiasm from the home crowd and some empty seats at men’s basketball games this season.—
Joe Arruda,
Hartford Courant,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stark.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stark. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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