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stark

 adjective \ˈstärk\

Definition of STARK

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>

— stark·ly adverb

— stark·ness noun

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Examples of STARK

1. The room was decorated with stark simplicity.
2. the stark reality of death
3. This tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of drunk driving.
4. There is a stark difference between them.
5. His criticism of the movie stands in stark contrast to the praise it has received from others.

Origin of STARK

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: before 12th century

Related to STARK

Synonyms

austere, dour, fierce, flinty, forbidding, gruff, intimidating,lowering (also louring), rough, rugged, severe, grim, steely,stern, ungentle

Antonyms

benign, benignant, gentle, mild, nonintimidating, tender

Related Words

bleak, cold, hostile, inhospitable, inimical, unfriendly,unsympathetic; adamant, bound, determined, firm, intent,purposeful, resolute, resolved, steadfast, unflinching;fixed, hard, hardened, hardheaded, immovable, implacable,inflexible, ironhanded, mulish, obdurate, obstinate, rigid,self-willed, set, stiff, stubborn, unbending,uncompromising, unrelenting, unyielding, willful (or wilful);immutable, unchangeable; black, cheerless, dark, gloomy,glum, joyless, melancholic, moody, morose, sulky, sullen,surly; brooding, grave, humorless, melancholy, serious,sober, sobersided, solemn, somber (or sombre), staid,unsmiling, weighty

Near Antonyms

bland, meek, mellow, soft, soothing; easy, quiet, tranquil;agreeable, bright, cheerful, inviting, pleasant, pleasing,sweet; glad, happy, lighthearted, merry, mirthful, sunny;featherbrained, flighty, frivolous, giddy, goofy,harebrained, light-headed, playful, scatterbrained, silly

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Rhymes with STARK

arc, ark, bark, dark, hark, lark, marc, MARC, mark, Mark,marque, narc, nark, park, Park, quark, sark, shark, spark

²stark

 adverb

Definition of STARK

1

: in a stark manner

2

: to an absolute or complete degree : wholly <stark naked><stark mad>

 See stark defined for English-language learners »

First Known Use of STARK

13th century

Stark

 biographical name \ˈshtärk, ˈstärk\

Definition of STARK

Johannes 1874–1957 Ger. physicist

Stark

 biographical name \ˈstärk\

Definition of STARK

John 1728–1822 Am. gen. in Revolution

Learn More About STARK

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for "stark"

Spanish-English Dictionary: Translation of "stark"

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