Word of the day · 9 August 2026
stark
/stɑːk/
adjective
Severe, bare or sharply clear; complete in a blunt way.
In a sentence
- The report drew a stark line between cost and benefit.
- Winter left the fields stark and brown.
- In the stark light of morning the damage looked worse.
In an image
Origin
From Old English stearc (stiff, strong, severe), related to Germanic roots meaning rigid.
History
Stark once meant stiff or strong in body. English kept senses of barren landscape, absolute contrast and blunt completeness (stark naked, stark reality). Modern design and photography use it for high contrast and empty space. It remains a short, forceful word for clarity without cushioning.
Nearby words
bleak · bare · severe
No soft focus: the outline shows as it is.