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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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stark
Needless to say, this unprecedented pushback against Russian election meddling marks a stark contrast to the West's previous responses to similar interference.
—
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Jan. 2025
In stark contrast, Spain’s gross domestic product grew by 0.8% in the fourth quarter, the country’s statistics office INE said Wednesday.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2025
Districts that don’t rely on daily attendance get most of their funding from property taxes and tend to be in higher-wealth areas, which Gallagher said could be one reason for the stark gap between socioeconomically disadvantaged students and more affluent students.
—Harriet Blair Rowan, The Mercury News, 29 Jan. 2025
In stark contrast, the 2024 law passed after a months-long media focus on youth crime.
—Monique L. Dixon, Baltimore Sun, 29 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for stark 
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Jan. 2025
In stark contrast, Spain’s gross domestic product grew by 0.8% in the fourth quarter, the country’s statistics office INE said Wednesday.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2025
Districts that don’t rely on daily attendance get most of their funding from property taxes and tend to be in higher-wealth areas, which Gallagher said could be one reason for the stark gap between socioeconomically disadvantaged students and more affluent students.
—Harriet Blair Rowan, The Mercury News, 29 Jan. 2025
In stark contrast, the 2024 law passed after a months-long media focus on youth crime.
—Monique L. Dixon, Baltimore Sun, 29 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for stark
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stark
Adjective
-
By and large, the results released Wednesday paint a grim portrait of academic recovery since the pandemic, especially in reading.—
Jacob Turcotte,
The Christian Science Monitor,
29 Jan. 2025
-
Altman’s perspective doesn't need to be a grim forecast.—
Dan Fitzpatrick,
Forbes,
28 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The sheer embarrassment of going through another deadline without making a move, after the wild, buzz-creating deal created by the Mavs and Lakers, would’ve been too much for even Bulls Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf to stomach.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Feb. 2025
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Not a single one of the other nominees for album of the year boasts the archival ambition, depth of research, courage, experimentation, soul and sheer scope of Cowboy Carter.—
Kyle Denis,
Billboard,
3 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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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
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The medication has hallucinogenic effects that alter the perception of sight and sound and cause users to feel devoid from pain and out of control of their surroundings.—
Jay Stahl,
USA TODAY,
28 Oct. 2023
Adjective
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For the scenes that take place in the Human World, the crew is going to shoot in a desolate part of Iceland.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
27 Jan. 2025
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What's more, the plane was completely encircled by massive screens that projected high-resolution videos of desolate Alaskan wilderness.—
Marco della Cava,
USA TODAY,
23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The track resonates with Belinda’s crystalline vocals, dynamic guitar riffs, and spirited trumpet interplays, while Tito’s distinctively gruff delivery adds grit to their musical escapade.—
Ingrid Fajardo,
Billboard,
17 Jan. 2025
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Resolved to continue on her trip for the sake of her son, Sara finds herself in a perilous situation, and is forced to lean on the elusive Issac Reed (Taylor Kitsch), a gruff recluse who lives on the outskirts of Ft. Bridger.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
9 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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For a more subtle look, weave the lights around strands of greenery to create a stunning, and simple, centerpiece.—
Claire Hoppe Norgaard,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Feb. 2025
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Gamers will love its dual HDMI 2.1 inputs for a variable refresh rate (VRR) of up to 144 Hz, while the Google TV interface makes setup and streaming simple and swift.—
Ryan Waniata,
WIRED,
5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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But that Fiennes mantle is as empty as St. Peter’s Square in a thunderstorm.—
Steven Zeitchik,
The Hollywood Reporter,
31 Jan. 2025
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The food safety manager certificate was not available and paper towel dispensers near two hand sinks were empty.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacramento Bee,
31 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The Anatolian mountains, where Ali tends to a barren garden, provide a sinister backdrop from which anything, not just a vagabond dropped as if from the sky, can suddenly appear.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
25 Jan. 2025
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The streets are barren, save for occasional officials’ vehicles.—
Katie Kilkenny,
The Hollywood Reporter,
22 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near stark
Cite this Entry
“Stark.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stark. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.
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