starkly
Americanadverb
-
in a harsh, grim, or desolate way.
Working in the slums confronted us starkly with the sufferings of others.
-
extremely simply, sparely, or austerely.
Even in wealthier households, bedrooms were starkly furnished, with just a bed and perhaps a chair and a small table.
-
in a blunt or sternly plain way, without softening.
To put it more starkly, your great-grandmother was a common criminal.
-
in a way that is highly contrastive; distinctly or sharply.
The case presents two starkly different views of mobile device targeting by advertisers.
-
completely or utterly; downright.
We both know that it's starkly impossible to hide an operation as big as that from a spy system as good as theirs.
Etymology
Origin of starkly
First recorded before 900; stark ( def. ) + -ly ( def. )
Explanation
Starkly describes something that's absolutely, undeniably clear. Because Harry Potter's skin was so pale, his lightning bolt scar stood out starkly against his forehead. The adverb starkly is good for talking about things that are visually severe or harsh, like the silhouette of a crow that stands starkly against the gray sky. You can also use it for a more figurative kind of harshness: "The Australian wildfires starkly illustrate the effects of climate change." We can trace this word back to a root (which it shares with stern) that means "stiff."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The United Nations' top official for refugees warned on Friday that conditions for long-displaced people in Western Sahara were getting worse and that their humanitarian needs were starkly underfunded.
From Barron's ● Sep. 25, 2026
The new high for the critical borrowing benchmark has created starkly different conditions for markets and the economy from the beginning of the decade, when yields dipped well below 1%.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026
Cybersecurity stocks were the top performers in the S&P 500 on Monday, showcasing how the technology trade has become starkly divided in the face of escalating warnings about artificial intelligence.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 14, 2026
Hilton, his Republican opponent in the race, holds starkly different views.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026
It sounded ugly to say it so starkly, but it was the truth.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
