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
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
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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
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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
This complaint is riddled with falsehoods and stands in stark contrast to the record that has already been established in court.
—
Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 24 Sep. 2025
That's a stark contrast from typical wait times for a new patient appointment at other types of clinics, which can average more than a month.
—Jessie Opoien, jsonline.com, 24 Sep. 2025
All-black ensembles are found in VIKTORANISIMOV’s SS26 collection, with a stark, almost uniform effect throughout.
—Finbarr Toesland, Robb Report, 24 Sep. 2025
Regional divides are equally stark.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stark
Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 24 Sep. 2025
That's a stark contrast from typical wait times for a new patient appointment at other types of clinics, which can average more than a month.
—Jessie Opoien, jsonline.com, 24 Sep. 2025
All-black ensembles are found in VIKTORANISIMOV’s SS26 collection, with a stark, almost uniform effect throughout.
—Finbarr Toesland, Robb Report, 24 Sep. 2025
Regional divides are equally stark.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stark
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stark
Adjective
-
Molina, a window dresser imprisoned for public indecency, escapes the grim reality of their confinement by retelling the plot of a glamorous Hollywood musical featuring his favorite silver screen diva, Ingrid Luna (Jennifer Lopez).—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
24 Sep. 2025
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This one revealed fresh cause for concern, and a much more grim prognosis.—
Josh Crutchmer,
Rolling Stone,
24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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To watch Lipe-Smith’s Caroline cuddle in bed watching TV on her iPad, or bopping around to JoJo Siwa, or pensively finishing a Popsicle while sitting beside her grandmother at a museum, is to have the sheer malevolence of our current administration and its adherents thrown into sharp relief.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
1 Oct. 2025
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The sheer paucity of Russian resources, after three and a half years of war, may lead to a similarly ineffective response to any use of Tomahawks.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Banking has become functionally correct but emotionally devoid, with the industry swimming in a sea of sameness.—
Michael Abbott,
Forbes,
19 Mar. 2025
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That devoid ingredient hindered things exponentially.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
15 Feb. 2024
Adjective
-
Unlike other parts of the Cascades, where campgrounds are plentiful and the Pacific Crest Trail attracts hundreds of hikers, this area is desolate.—
Zoe Sottile,
CNN Money,
20 Sep. 2025
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Despite the Winchesters' massive home, thanks to Andrew's family's wealth, Millie is banished to live in a desolate attic bedroom.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Roku then picked up the rights for a spartan $10 million—about a third of what Peacock shelled out in each year of its contract.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
24 Sep. 2025
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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
Adjective
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This pays off to some extent because Day-Lewis is such a mesmerizing presence, Ray’s gruff manner and terse communications hinting at dark mysteries to be revealed.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Sep. 2025
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Panday plays a convincingly gruff tortured artist alongside Padda’s struggling ingenue, and most of the screen time is devoted to their pairing instead of introducing tertiary excess.—
Proma Khosla,
IndieWire,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Don’t pull over in the roundabout Roundabouts with a single lane of traffic in each direction are fairly simple – yield to traffic in the roundabout, wait for a gap in traffic and go through, Bryson said.—
Eric D. Lawrence,
USA Today,
28 Sep. 2025
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This can be as simple as bodyweight movements, resistance bands or dumbbells, focusing on compound/functional movements like squats, pushes and pulls.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
27 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The album is a hot mess of conflicted emotions, empty braggadocio, poor technique, and heartbreaking yet tiresome crying jags.—
Mosi Reeves,
Rolling Stone,
29 Sep. 2025
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Reports indicated empty alcohol containers were found in the Nissan.—
Jade Jackson,
IndyStar,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stark.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stark. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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