BARE Synonyms: 303 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

bare 1 of 2

adjective

ˈber

Definition of bare next

as in mere

being this and no more impoverished people who can no longer afford the bare necessities

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in simple

free from all additions or embellishment do you want to know the bare truth?

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in exposed

lacking a usual or natural covering the ground was bare, without a trace of grass

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in naked

lacking or shed of clothing the toddler liked to run around bare

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in devoid

lacking contents that could or should be present the cupboard was bare—not a thing to eat

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in void

utterly lacking in something needed, wanted, or expected the cupboard was bare of baking supplies

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

bare

2 of 2

verb

ˈber

as in to reveal

to make known (as information previously kept secret) finally bared the secret that she had kept to herself for so long

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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 bare

Adjective

As a result, Johnson became the first speaker candidate in the past 112 years to win without a single vote beyond the bare minimum needed for a majority. —

Geoffrey Skelley, ABC News, 9 Jan. 2025 As hurricane-force winds whipped up wildfires across Los Angeles on Wednesday, only the bare outline of the disaster’s impact was coming into focus. —

Booth Moore, WWD, 8 Jan. 2025

Verb

On Friday's episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show, the actor talked about stripping down for the upcoming TV special The Real Full Monty, in which he and some fellow male celebrities are set to bare it all (well, most of it) in the name of promoting cancer screening. —

Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 7 Dec. 2024 Margot Robbie wasn't afraid to bare all for her first major movie. —

Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY, 3 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for bare

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bare

Adjective

In a mere century, electricity has changed almost every human activity.

— U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Jan. 2025
If this angle of attack fails, populists seek to degrade the military’s standing and legitimacy by launching political attacks on senior officers, portraying them as incompetent or as mere politicians in uniform.

— Ronald R. Krebs, Foreign Affairs, 14 Jan. 2025