1
: not reproducing: such as
a
: incapable of producing offspring
—used especially of females or matings
barren women
b
: not yet or not recently pregnant
c
of plants
: habitually failing to fruit
barren apple trees
2
4
: lacking interest or charm
a barren routine
5
: lacking inspiration or ideas
a barren mind
barrenly
adverb
1
barrens plural, geography
: an extent of usually level land having an inferior growth of trees or little vegetation
2
: a tract of barren land
Examples of barren in a Sentence
Adjective
Few creatures can thrive on these barren mountaintops.
The book was good, but I found the barren lives of the characters depressing.
Noun
lived out in the barrens where it was impossible to grow anything
Recent Examples on the Web
Ron Hasse, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
When the Plainfield Police Department responded to an animal cruelty call in April 2023, officers found two emaciated dogs in barren crates.
—Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 18 Sep. 2025
Ordinary People is just a movie, but it is infused with life even at its most barren and miserable.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2025
One of vultures in a barren tree.
—Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for barren
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Adjective
At the time, only a handful of the university’s buildings were completed and the barren campus lacked landscaping.
—Ron Hasse, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
When the Plainfield Police Department responded to an animal cruelty call in April 2023, officers found two emaciated dogs in barren crates.
—Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 18 Sep. 2025
Ordinary People is just a movie, but it is infused with life even at its most barren and miserable.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2025
One of vultures in a barren tree.
—Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for barren
Cite this Entry
“Barren.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barren. Accessed 24 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
barren
1 of 2 adjective
bar·ren
ˈbar-ən 
1
a
: not able to produce offspring
—used especially of females
b
: usually failing to fruit
barren apple trees
2
a
: producing inferior or little to no vegetation
barren soils
b
: not producing results or gain
a barren plan
barrenly
adverb
barren
2 of 2 noun
: a tract of barren land
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