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
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 stark
For independents, the Democratic primary does reveal a stark battle between the establishment and anti-establishment independents.
—
Dave Anderson, Baltimore Sun, 5 July 2025
For others, Memorial Day serves as a stark reminder of the importance of boating safety.
—Katie Nixon, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
This type of path is in stark contrast to a linear pathway.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
In stark contrast with his first term, in which many senior officials steered the administration to focus on great-power competition, Trump appears to be pursuing a transactional approach to geopolitics based on dealmaking with other major powers.
—Rebecca Lissner, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for stark
Dave Anderson, Baltimore Sun, 5 July 2025
For others, Memorial Day serves as a stark reminder of the importance of boating safety.
—Katie Nixon, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
This type of path is in stark contrast to a linear pathway.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
In stark contrast with his first term, in which many senior officials steered the administration to focus on great-power competition, Trump appears to be pursuing a transactional approach to geopolitics based on dealmaking with other major powers.
—Rebecca Lissner, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for stark
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stark
Adjective
-
Robert Shapiro, the first member and initial chair of OJ Simpson's defense team, gave a grim prediction regarding Diddy's potential sentence.—
Lauryn Overhultz , Larry Fink,
FOXNews.com,
8 July 2025
-
In 2024, that number hit a heartbreaking 105 — a grim record for child drownings in the state, according to the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF).—
Karen Cohn,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 July 2025
Adjective
-
Some may prove useful in the long run and others illusory, but for now they are statistically swamped by the sheer amount of renewable power coming online.—
Bill McKibben,
New Yorker,
9 July 2025
-
The sheer variety of equipment, the pace of change and rising customer demands call for something better: a knowledge capture process that’s baked into the daily workflow.—
Thomas Cottereau,
Forbes.com,
9 July 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
-
Griffith also describes in vivid detail the desolate Hopi landscape and the villages atop the three mesas.—
Sandra Dallas,
Denver Post,
13 July 2025
-
Despite its desolate appearance, Bouvet is surprisingly rich in bird life.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
12 July 2025
Adjective
-
With a deep, gruff voice and animus toward humanity, McCarthy was an unusual dance-music star when Nitzer Ebb started notching chart hits.—
Kory Grow,
Rolling Stone,
12 June 2025
-
Two months ago, the world lost a gruff and burly guitar player named Al Barile.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
11 June 2025
Adjective
-
Taxes are never simple, nor quick to fix, but need to be top of mind during crypto week.—
Sean Stein Smith,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
-
The mower mulches the grass into super fine clippings and catches them in the attached bag, which was simple to remove and empty.—
Brandi Fuller,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
Whether you’re just getting started or you’re headed to the Med Spa, Noh has advice for how to up your skincare game, avoid empty trends, and DIY your skincare at home with her favorite products, face exercises, and step-by-step skincare routines.—
Carmen Rios,
Flow Space,
7 July 2025
-
The black silhouette of a male head and shoulders sits atop a ladder whose rungs are capped at each end with empty spools that might have held the threads of life.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
7 July 2025
Adjective
-
The jetliner heading to Nairobi lost control shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport and nose-dived into a barren patch of land.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
13 July 2025
-
Bandits, raiders, and more monsters crawl the barren landscape.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
11 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stark.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stark. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share