bare 1 of 2

Definition of barenext
1
2
3
4
5
6

bare

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective bare differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of bare are bald, barren, naked, and nude. While all these words mean "deprived of naturally or conventionally appropriate covering," bare implies the removal of what is additional, superfluous, ornamental, or dispensable.

an apartment with bare walls

When might bald be a better fit than bare?

The synonyms bald and bare are sometimes interchangeable, but bald implies actual or seeming absence of natural covering and may suggest a conspicuous bareness.

a bald mountain peak

When is it sensible to use barren instead of bare?

The words barren and bare can be used in similar contexts, but barren often suggests aridity or impoverishment or sterility.

barren plains

In what contexts can naked take the place of bare?

While in some cases nearly identical to bare, naked suggests absence of protective or ornamental covering but may imply a state of nature, of destitution, or of defenselessness.

poor half-naked children

Where would nude be a reasonable alternative to bare?

While the synonyms nude and bare are close in meaning, nude applies especially to the unclothed human figure.

a nude model posing for art students

How does the adjective bare differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of bare are bald, barren, naked, and nude. While all these words mean "deprived of naturally or conventionally appropriate covering," bare implies the removal of what is additional, superfluous, ornamental, or dispensable.

an apartment with bare walls

When might bald be a better fit than bare?

The synonyms bald and bare are sometimes interchangeable, but bald implies actual or seeming absence of natural covering and may suggest a conspicuous bareness.

a bald mountain peak

When is it sensible to use barren instead of bare?

The words barren and bare can be used in similar contexts, but barren often suggests aridity or impoverishment or sterility.

barren plains

In what contexts can naked take the place of bare?

While in some cases nearly identical to bare, naked suggests absence of protective or ornamental covering but may imply a state of nature, of destitution, or of defenselessness.

poor half-naked children

Where would nude be a reasonable alternative to bare?

While the synonyms nude and bare are close in meaning, nude applies especially to the unclothed human figure.

a nude model posing for art students

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 bare
Adjective
But the single most overwhelming influence — even without the conspicuous shots of Beetz’s bare feet — is a certain Quentin Tarantino opus from the early 21st century. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 26 Mar. 2026 Gardening with bare hands can be both a hobby, and for a developing brain, pharmacology. John La Puma, Oc Register, 26 Mar. 2026
Verb
At group therapy with his troubled stepson, Richard (Arlan Ruf), Floyd bares his soul. Judy Berman, Time, 26 Feb. 2026 His nudes bare the distinct shape of an elusive figure the entertainment world knows all too well: an Oscar. Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 26 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bare
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bare
Adjective
  • Kodály’s Romanian Folk Dances, composed in 1915 for piano and arranged for orchestra two years later, occupy a mere six minutes.
    Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, 27 Mar. 2026
  • China’s past glories may be recast as part of an extended narrative of dominance, and America’s eight-decade reign may come to be regarded as a mere blip.
    Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Build buffer time, trim one commitment, then return to the itinerary with even gentler expectations and a simpler packing list.
    Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Parents, guardians, aunts and uncles don't have time to read every book on the shelf while trying to pick something for the young reader in their life, so here are some simple ways to determine if a book is suitable for that child.
    Cody Godwin, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Plus, by leaving the foot more exposed, sandals help elongate the leg, which is particularly useful when wearing capri-length pants.
    René Chávez Esparza, Glamour, 22 Mar. 2026
  • The objective is to reduce exposed equity within the entity in a lawful and structured manner.
    Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • As Barber fell to the canvas, Grasso put her in a rear naked chokehold before the fight was quickly called.
    Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 31 Mar. 2026
  • In spite of a seismic crossing of the technological Rubicon, an abandonment of the centuries-old deference to the naked eye, a codifying and calcifying of the most atomic-level building block of the sport, baseball mostly just looked like baseball.
    Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Banking has become functionally correct but emotionally devoid, with the industry swimming in a sea of sameness.
    Michael Abbott, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
  • That devoid ingredient hindered things exponentially.
    Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 15 Feb. 2024
Verb
  • Thirty-one years after winning Best Actor for Forrest Gump, Tom Hanks and the film’s cast are still revealing behind-the-scenes secrets — from a studio standoff over money to a prosthetic lip that nearly destroyed an actor’s career.
    Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
  • Unlike Diana, Kate’s ‘Balmoral Test’ and subsequent visits might reveal her more durable alignment with the family’s dynamics, both in private and public.
    Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • This is plain weaponization of the FBI for partisan political purposes.
    Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Great effort has been made to transform what is ordinarily a plain, beige room into a festive space.
    Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Her home had been a house of mourning, a symbol of resilience, a family cornerstone, and now—bright shock—the empty scene of an unseen crime.
    Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Police searched the house and found a Powerade bottle that was largely empty, but contained some residue at the bottom.
    Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 31 Mar. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bare.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bare. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on bare

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster