stark
1 of 2adjective
ˈstärk 
1
a
: rigid in or as if in death
b
: rigidly conforming (as to a pattern or doctrine) : absolute
stark discipline
2
archaic : strong, robust
3
: utter, sheer
stark nonsense
4
a
: barren, desolate
b(1)
: having few or no ornaments : bare
a stark white room
(2)
: harsh, blunt
the stark realities of death
5
: sharply delineated
a stark contrast
starkly adverb
starkness noun
stark
2 of 2adverb
1
: in a stark manner
2
: to an absolute or complete degree : wholly
stark naked
stark mad
Synonyms
Adjective
- austere
- dour
- fierce
- flinty
- forbidding
- grim
- gruff
- intimidating
- lowering
- louring
- rough
- rugged
- severe
- steely
- stern
- ungentle
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective The room was decorated with stark simplicity. the stark reality of death This tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of drunk driving. There is a stark difference between them. His criticism of the movie stands in stark contrast to the praise it has received from others.
Recent Examples on the Web
Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 15 Sep. 2022 The choice between the two men could not be more stark. Time, 15 Sep. 2022 The differences were even more stark between high- and low-achieving individuals. William A. Galston, WSJ, 6 Sep. 2022 The disparity in interest between the two shows is even more stark when considering the budgets for the competing fantasy franchises. Adario Strange, Quartz, 19 Aug. 2022 The difference between Blackburn’s home and road stats also became even more stark. Steve Kroner, San Francisco Chronicle, 24 July 2022 The numbers last year were even more stark: 2,006 people in Arizona died of opioid overdoses in 2021. Gregory Svirnovskiy, The Arizona Republic, 27 June 2022 The contrast between the quiet, exclusive nature of Milan Fashion Week and the exuberance of its premier design week has never been more stark than this year. Colleen Barry, ajc, 17 June 2022 For Heard, the survey’s findings were far more stark. Josh Rottenberg, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2022 Shira Ovide, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2020 The divide is stark between the two categories of states. Shawn Tully, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2020 The contrast is most stark between California and New York. refinery29.com, 1 Apr. 2020 The implications are undeniably stark: Informal caregivers will no doubt continue to absorb the majority of the strain. Grace Hatton, STAT, 24 Dec. 2019 But the climactic sequence of Midsommar features one of the last surviving Americans running stark naked across the noonday greensward with nobody obviously chasing him. Ross Douthat, National Review, 25 July 2019 Around the turn of the last century, our place, which is now surrounded by woods, sat stark on a bald hilltop with nary a tree in sight. Vogue, 21 June 2018 Kruger’s stark, carefully laid out design cleverly turns the façade of an innocuous strip-building into the memory of a Greek temple, the classical style in which art museums were once conventionally built. Christopher Knight, latimes.com, 14 June 2018 Joslyn Gray is the author of the humor blog stark. raving. Joslyn Gray, Redbook, 12 Mar. 2012 See More
Adjective
Russian President Vladimir Putin now faces a narrower, more stark set of options in litigating the war of his choosing. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 15 Sep. 2022 The choice between the two men could not be more stark. Time, 15 Sep. 2022 The differences were even more stark between high- and low-achieving individuals. William A. Galston, WSJ, 6 Sep. 2022 The disparity in interest between the two shows is even more stark when considering the budgets for the competing fantasy franchises. Adario Strange, Quartz, 19 Aug. 2022 The difference between Blackburn’s home and road stats also became even more stark. Steve Kroner, San Francisco Chronicle, 24 July 2022 The numbers last year were even more stark: 2,006 people in Arizona died of opioid overdoses in 2021. Gregory Svirnovskiy, The Arizona Republic, 27 June 2022 The contrast between the quiet, exclusive nature of Milan Fashion Week and the exuberance of its premier design week has never been more stark than this year. Colleen Barry, ajc, 17 June 2022 For Heard, the survey’s findings were far more stark. Josh Rottenberg, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2022 Adverb
But the lack of health insurance, sick pay and other protections for many Americans, including Uber contractors, is stark now. Shira Ovide, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2020 The divide is stark between the two categories of states. Shawn Tully, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2020 The contrast is most stark between California and New York. refinery29.com, 1 Apr. 2020 The implications are undeniably stark: Informal caregivers will no doubt continue to absorb the majority of the strain. Grace Hatton, STAT, 24 Dec. 2019 But the climactic sequence of Midsommar features one of the last surviving Americans running stark naked across the noonday greensward with nobody obviously chasing him. Ross Douthat, National Review, 25 July 2019 Around the turn of the last century, our place, which is now surrounded by woods, sat stark on a bald hilltop with nary a tree in sight. Vogue, 21 June 2018 Kruger’s stark, carefully laid out design cleverly turns the façade of an innocuous strip-building into the memory of a Greek temple, the classical style in which art museums were once conventionally built. Christopher Knight, latimes.com, 14 June 2018 Joslyn Gray is the author of the humor blog stark. raving. Joslyn Gray, Redbook, 12 Mar. 2012 See More Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English, stiff, strong, from Old English stearc; akin to Old High German starc strong, Lithuanian starinti to stiffen — more at stare
First Known Use
Adjective
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Adverb
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing stark
Kids Definition
stark 1 of 2
adjective
ˈstärk
starker; starkest
1
: barren sense 2, desolate
a stark landscape
2
: clear and harsh
She faced the stark reality of poverty.
3
: very obvious
The differences were stark.
stark
2 of 2adverb
: completely
stark naked
Biographical Definition
Stark 1 of 2
biographical name (1)
ˈshtärk ˈstärk
ˈstärk Johannes 1874–1957 German physicist
Stark
2 of 2biographical name (2)
ˈstärk
John 1728–1822 American general in Revolution
stark
adjective
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
Relevance
- grim
- gruff
- fierce
- bleak
- stern
- intimidating
- rugged
- forbidding
- severe
- austere
- hostile
- rough
- dour
- somber
- steely
- dark
- flinty
- cold
- ungentle
- lowering
- hardened
- louring
- black
- moody
- stubborn
- unflinching
- solemn
- resolute
- inhospitable
- stiff
- uncompromising
- determined
- unrelenting
- adamant
- unsympathetic
- steadfast
- implacable
- intent
- purposeful
- unfriendly
- rigid
- bound
- cheerless
- unyielding
- gloomy
- inimical
- sullen
- serious
- unbending
- obdurate
- melancholy
- resolved
- morose
- glum
- hard
- willful
- firm
- set
- fixed
- inflexible
- melancholic
- brooding
- obstinate
- joyless
- sombre
- unchangeable
- mulish
- unsmiling
- immovable
- immutable
- sober
- hardheaded
- surly
- staid
- sulky
- humorless
- grave
- weighty
- wilful
- ironhanded
- self-willed
- sobersided
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- mild
- gentle
- bland
- soft
- benign
- quiet
- soothing
- tender
- mellow
- easy
- meek
- bright
- tranquil
- benignant
- sweet
- pleasant
- cheerful
- pleasing
- nonintimidating
- inviting
- agreeable
- sunny
- lighthearted
- happy
- silly
- merry
- playful
- mirthful
- glad
- frivolous
- goofy
- giddy
- scatterbrained
- flighty
- harebrained
- featherbrained
- light-headed
2
as in sheer
having no exceptions or restrictions the school's stark prohibition against obscene slogans on clothing Synonyms & Similar Words
- sheer
- simple
- utter
- absolute
- unconditional
- pure
- complete
- very
- definite
- total
- profound
- damned
- outright
- damn
- real
- downright
- perfect
- huge
- deadly
- categorical
- dreadful
- unmitigated
- blank
- endless
- thoroughgoing
- unadulterated
- stone
- clean
- categoric
- thorough
- unalloyed
- constant
- blooming
- crashing
- flat
- unqualified
- horrible
- plumb
- straight-out
- fair
- consummate
- flat-out
- regular
- terrible
- extreme
- genuine
- out-and-out
- dead
- bodacious
- arrant
- eternal
- all-out
- perpetual
- rank
- unremitting
- veritable
- classic
- authentic
- extraordinary
- hopeless
- main
- supreme
- undying
- terrific
- frightful
- unrestricted
- habitual
- superlative
- confirmed
- inveterate
- surpassing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- uncertain
- questionable
- doubtful
- restricted
- dubious
- equivocal
- qualified
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
- devoid
- empty
- barren
- bare
- blank
- clean
- void
- vacant
- clear
- vacuous
- hollow
- drained
- toom
- emptied
- deserted
- open
- uninhabited
- available
- dry
- unfilled
- abandoned
- depleted
- unoccupied
- forsaken
- free
- exhausted
- unfurnished
- unattended
- vacated
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- full
- complete
- replete
- provided
- furnished
- filled
- supplied
- occupied
- flush
- overflowing
- packed
- teeming
4
as in barren
producing inferior or only a small amount of vegetation a once-lush landscape rendered depressingly stark by strip-mining and deforestation Synonyms & Similar Words
- barren
- desolate
- bleak
- impoverished
- poor
- waste
- hardscrabble
- bony
- unfertile
- unproductive
- desert
- dry
- infertile
- lifeless
- dead
- boney
- inhospitable
- reduced
- exhausted
- drained
- diminished
- thirsty
- arid
- spent
- depleted
- sere
- consumed
- lessened
- untillable
- enfeebled
- debilitated
- used up
- expended
- waterless
- droughty
- bankrupted
- sunbaked
- sear
- uncultivable
- rainless
- parched
- baked
- dried-up
- dehydrated
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- rich
- lush
- fertile
- productive
- fruitful
- luxuriant
- green
- arable
- verdant
- tillable
- sylvan
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
- spartan
- austere
- simple
- unadorned
- plain
- no-frills
- unfancy
- undecorated
- unelaborate
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- luxurious
- plush
- luxe
- elaborate
- deluxe
- fancy
- adorned
- decorated
- Lucullan
- Lucullian