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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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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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stark
Stay away from stark whites and blacks for this style.
—
Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 May 2025
The Japanese automaker calls this iteration of the C-HR stylish and powerful, which is a stark contrast from the discontinued 2022 model year, based on a vehicle review from Kelley Blue Book.
—Charles Singh, USA Today, 19 May 2025
Fernandes, in stark contrast, has given his best years to a club enduring their worst years.
—Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 19 May 2025
As Hay playfully commented, the Opry offered a stark contrast to other highbrow programs populating the airwaves, swapping symphonies and arias for jaunty renditions of old Anglo-Celtic, European and African-American ballads played on the fiddle, banjo and guitar.
—Lindsay Kusiak, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for stark
Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 May 2025
The Japanese automaker calls this iteration of the C-HR stylish and powerful, which is a stark contrast from the discontinued 2022 model year, based on a vehicle review from Kelley Blue Book.
—Charles Singh, USA Today, 19 May 2025
Fernandes, in stark contrast, has given his best years to a club enduring their worst years.
—Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 19 May 2025
As Hay playfully commented, the Opry offered a stark contrast to other highbrow programs populating the airwaves, swapping symphonies and arias for jaunty renditions of old Anglo-Celtic, European and African-American ballads played on the fiddle, banjo and guitar.
—Lindsay Kusiak, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for stark
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stark
Adjective
-
India claims to have targeted militant infrastructure, but the reality is grim: at least 26 Pakistani civilians -including women and a young child were reported killed in the strikes.—
Faisal Kutty,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 May 2025
-
Sitting in on India press conferences can often be a bit grim, carefully orchestrated by the team's hierarchy and little is usually given to their hungry press corps.—
Tristan Lavalette,
Forbes.com,
8 May 2025
Adjective
-
Secrets of the Thrift Kidney's strategy centers on knowledge, patience, and sheer time investment.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 May 2025
-
Cyrus released the single alongside a black-and-white video that sways from footage of the singer dripping in crystals to wearing a long, classic dress and toward the end, wearing a somber black coat with sheer fabric covering her face.—
Tomás Mier,
Rolling Stone,
9 May 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
-
Delle, devoid for so long from its intrinsic need for social interaction might be filling in the gaps by talking to himself.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
14 Feb. 2023
Adjective
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A lot of people have this idea of the north as being cold and desolate, and maybe people, once upon a time, lived up there, but don't anymore.—
Dana Feldman,
Forbes.com,
22 Apr. 2025
-
The Memphis rapper began the show with dramatics, rising on a giant platform with her back to the audience as a screen behind her projected the image of a desolate street.—
John Lonsdale,
Rolling Stone,
12 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The rest of the film takes place in a prison, where Henry’s gruff but philosophical cellmate, Gene (Shia LaBeouf), tries to teach him the ways of the world.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
30 Apr. 2025
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Fimmel digs into the more stereotypical gruff bounty hunter with relish, though the character itself is a western staple.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
1 May 2025
Adjective
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Style them with a simple tank for a casual day out, or add a blazer and ballet flats for a more polished airport look.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
12 May 2025
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Experts say these are all the benefits of this simple exercise Is Zone 2 cardio best for fat loss?—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
12 May 2025
Adjective
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One night at dinner, my daughter whispered to me that the empty bread basket was a bummer.—
Lauren Mechling,
Vogue,
19 May 2025
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Panthers come up empty on early power plays Minimal action at the net through the first 13 minutes, although Florida did have two power plays — both of which Toronto killed off.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
17 May 2025
Adjective
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In the early 1900s, Jennie Butchart transformed the scarred land of a barren limestone quarry into a lush retreat, proving nature’s resilience.—
Cheryl Russell,
Oc Register,
11 May 2025
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The inky ocean depths are often assumed to be barren, but this is a myth, said Adrian Glover, a deep-sea ocean scientist at the UK’s Natural History Museum.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
8 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stark.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stark. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
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