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as in bare
lacking a usual or natural covering trees that are bald in the winter aren't the best for giving a home year-round privacy

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective bald differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of bald are bare, barren, naked, and nude. While all these words mean "deprived of naturally or conventionally appropriate covering," bald implies actual or seeming absence of natural covering and may suggest a conspicuous bareness.

a bald mountain peak

When can bare be used instead of bald?

Although the words bare and bald have much in common, bare implies the removal of what is additional, superfluous, ornamental, or dispensable.

an apartment with bare walls

Where would barren be a reasonable alternative to bald?

In some situations, the words barren and bald are roughly equivalent. However, barren often suggests aridity or impoverishment or sterility.

barren plains

When might naked be a better fit than bald?

The words naked and bald are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, naked suggests absence of protective or ornamental covering but may imply a state of nature, of destitution, or of defenselessness.

poor half-naked children

When could nude be used to replace bald?

The synonyms nude and bald are sometimes interchangeable, but nude applies especially to the unclothed human figure.

a nude model posing for art students

Examples 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 bald There are other ways in which the platform’s design encourages courteous behavior among bald men and beyond. Oscar Holland, CNN, 27 Nov. 2024 Within two months of discovering the first bald spot, Schack had lost most of the hair on her head. Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2024 Listen to this article Loading your audio article John Stamos sparked controversy after sporting a bald cap to show his support for pal Dave Coulier, who recently revealed his cancer diagnosis. Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 19 Nov. 2024 Yes, Lyle Menendez is currently bald and his hair was a marvel for anyone who walked into the courtroom. Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 20 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for bald 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bald
Adjective
  • For those who can’t get their crypto reconciled in time, the bare minimum would be to at least work with their tax professional to prepare a document that identifies their preferred allocation method, Gordon said.
    Darla Mercado, CFP®, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Be sure to complete this task when the tree is completely bare, before adding lights (if your tree isn't pre-lit), ornaments, or other decor.
    Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Maybe the key to a truly satisfying vacation in 2025 is simple: more of it.
    Christopher Elliott, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2024
  • The equation is simple: The more authoritarianism in the world, the more dissidents.
    Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Even now, the demand for change-resilient experts with transferable skills is already obvious across multiple industries, especially in tech and IT.
    Hilary Tetenbaum, The Arizona Republic, 18 Dec. 2024
  • One of the additions should be quite obvious to anybody following the Yankees' offseason closely.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • White rice is more effective because its starches are more exposed, maximizing absorption.
    Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 30 Nov. 2024
  • This one has drop shoulders with exposed seams, a ribbed collar, and slouchy silhouette that looks perfect over everything from skinny jeans to wide-leg pants.
    Jamie Allison Sanders, People.com, 20 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Some people spotted the shimmering colors with the naked eye, while others caught the glow with their cameras.
    Joe Spring, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Dec. 2024
  • The planet can be found between the nearly full moon and a reddish-orange star called Aldebaran, which shines brightest in the Taurus constellation and can be seen with the naked eye.
    Denise Chow, NBC News, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • His voice — raw, nasal, scratchy but full of passion, anger and wry wisdom — is near enough to the original to be unmistakable and yet colored by the actor’s persona to a degree that suggests something closer to symbiosis than impersonation.
    David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Dec. 2024
  • Its high proof is unmistakable but well-integrated, allowing the rich flavors to shine.
    Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • These are all radical Islamic terrorist organizations, plain and simple.
    Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024
  • Use plain language in your policies, and provide users with clear, easy-to-find controls for managing their preferences.
    Jodi Daniels, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Though the Dodgers reportedly had the most funds available to spend on the 2024 class, Sasaki’s apparent shift to the 2025 class should not sway much in what is expected to be a dogged pursuit of the Japanese right-hander.
    Fabian Ardaya, The Athletic, 10 Dec. 2024
  • Furthermore, the information was not recovered by journalists or authorities, who were able to quickly uncover Mangione's apparent social media profiles including his Goodreads, LinkedIn, and Instagram accounts.
    Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near bald

Cite this Entry

“Bald.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bald. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

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