stark

5 definitions • 7 examples

empty, simple, or obvious, especially without decoration or anything that is not necessary:

It was a stark room with a bed and chair as the only furniture.

The stark reality is that we are operating at a huge loss.

In the suburbs the spacious houses stand in stark (= extreme) contrast to the slums of the city's poor.

completely or extremely:

The children were splashing in the river, stark naked.

If I didn't exercise, I think I'd go raving mad (UK also stark staring mad) from sitting at a desk all day.

empty or without decoration:

stark white walls

Stark also means completely clear:

The dim halls made a stark contrast with the bright, sun-drenched apartment.

Someone who is stark naked is not wearing any clothes.