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 overall difference this strategy made stands out quite starkly on Dog’s profile: Their most recent posts from the pre-Ryonex era, Aug. 6 and before, each got a few thousand likes.
From Slate ● Aug. 28, 2026
The merits of a post-mortem were starkly revealed in Daniel Lindsay's case.
From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026
Although the comparison is tempting, this era of government intervention is starkly different.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 5, 2026
Hoyte van Hoytema’s Imax-framed cinematography is assertive and present, rocking with the stormy waves and peering into the torch-lit darkness where the color palette is as starkly orange and black as an ancient Greek urn.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
These barracks were as starkly unwelcoming as theirs.
From "The Devil's Arithmetic" by Jane Yolen
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
