stark
gb/stˈɑɹk/ us/stˈɑɹk/
B2
English
~ 7400
éles, kíméletlen, sivár, kopár, rideg, teljesen, totál
B2
1
éles
B1
kíméletlen
B2
Usage pattern:
stark [noun]
The report presents a stark picture of rising inequality in the city.
A jelentés kíméletlen képet fest a városban növekvő egyenlőtlenségről.
There is a stark contrast between the rich tourist areas and the poor neighborhoods nearby.
Éles ellentét van a gazdag turistakörnyékek és a közeli szegény negyedek között.
The empty shelves were a stark reminder of how quickly food can run out.
The film offers a stark warning about the dangers of climate change.
Her calm reaction was in stark contrast to his anger.
Learner examples
The news gave a stark view of the war.
A hírek kíméletlen képet adtak a háborúról.
There is a stark contrast between day and night in the desert.
A sivatagban éles az ellentét a nappal és az éjszaka között.
The photo is a stark reminder of the storm last year.
The teacher gave us a stark warning about cheating.
His dark clothes are in stark contrast to the white walls.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "stark" to mean simply "strong" or "big" (influenced by German or other languages). In English, this sense of "stark" is mainly used for very clear, plain, and often unpleasant truth or difference (e.g., "stark contrast", "stark reality"), not for physical strength. Learners also sometimes say *"very stark contrast"*; because "stark" already means "very clear", the extra "very" is usually unnecessary.
Meaning
extremely clear and harsh
Collocations
stark contrast
|in stark contrast (to)
|stark reality
|stark reminder
|stark warning
|stark differences
Synonyms
harsh (Emphasizes roughness or cruelty; does not always include the idea of being plain or simple the way "stark" does.)
|
bleak (Often suggests something cold or without hope, while "stark" focuses more on clear, bare truth or difference.)
Antonyms
softened (Suggests information or differences have been made less direct or less painful, the opposite of "stark" in this sense.)
|
subtle (Indicates delicate or slight differences, which contrasts with the very clear and obvious nature of something "stark".)
Themes
contrast
|society
|description
|opinion
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Very clear and simple in a way that shows something is serious or bad, with nothing to make it softer or nicer.
Very plain and impossible to ignore, especially because it is harsh, serious, or unpleasant.
B2
2
Usage pattern:
stark [noun]
The cabin was warm inside, but from the outside it stood alone in a stark winter landscape.
A kunyhó belül meleg volt, de kívülről magányosan állt a sivár téli tájban.
The walls were painted white, and the room had a stark, almost clinical feel.
A falakat fehérre festették, és a szobának rideg, szinte kórházi hangulata volt.
After the fire, only the stark concrete frame of the building remained.
The trees in winter were stark and leafless against the grey sky.
The photographer loved the stark lines of the empty parking lot.
Learner examples
The room was stark, with only a bed and a chair.
A szoba sivár volt: csak egy ágy és egy szék volt benne.
We walked across a stark, empty field.
Egy kopár, üres mezőn vágtunk át.
In winter the land looks stark and cold.
The house had stark white walls and no pictures.
I like the stark design of this modern building.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this sense with the more abstract "stark contrast" sense. If you are talking about how a place or object looks (a room, a building, a landscape), use this "bare/empty" meaning. If you are talking about differences, facts, or reality (contrast, choice, warning), use the other sense.
Meaning
very bare or plain
Collocations
stark landscape
|stark room
|stark surroundings
|stark winter trees
|stark interior
|stark beauty
Synonyms
bare (Very close in meaning, but "bare" is more general; "stark" often adds a stronger sense of emptiness or severity.)
|
austere (More formal and often used for style or lifestyle; "stark" is more about visual emptiness or plainness.)
Antonyms
ornate (Means heavily decorated, which contrasts directly with the bareness of something "stark".)
Themes
description
|places
|nature
|housing
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Very empty and plain, with no decoration or anything to make it feel warm or comfortable.
Very bare, empty, or simple in appearance, with no decoration, comfort, or softness.
B2
INFORMAL
3
Usage pattern:
stark [adjective]
He opened the door and found her standing there, stark naked.
Kinyitotta az ajtót, és ő ott állt előtte anyaszült meztelenül.
If you think that plan will work, you are stark raving mad.
Ha azt hiszed, hogy ez a terv működni fog, teljesen megőrültél.
The accident left him stark terrified of driving on highways.
When his partner left, he felt stark alone in the big city.
The idea is stark nonsense and will never be accepted.
Learner examples
The baby ran into the room stark naked.
A baba anyaszült meztelenül szaladt be a szobába.
People said he was stark raving mad to quit his job.
Az emberek azt mondták, teljesen megőrült, hogy felmondott.
She was stark terrified after the break-in.
He felt stark alone after his friends moved away.
That story is stark nonsense; it is not true at all.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes try to use "stark" in this way before many adjectives, like *"stark tired"* or *"stark happy"*, which sounds wrong. This sense is normally used only in a few set phrases, such as "stark naked", "stark raving mad", "stark staring mad", "stark nonsense", or "stark terrified". Outside these, use "completely" or "totally" instead.
Meaning
completely or totally
Collocations
stark naked
|stark raving mad
|stark staring mad
|stark terrified
|stark alone
Synonyms
completely (A neutral, general adverb; "stark" is stronger and mostly used in fixed phrases like "stark naked".)
|
totally (Informal like "stark", but used much more widely; "stark" sounds more fixed and idiomatic.)
Antonyms
partly (Means only to some degree, which is the opposite of the "completely" idea in this sense.)
Themes
emphasis
|emotion
|informal_speech
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Completely or totally, used to make words like "naked" or "mad" stronger.
Completely or absolutely, especially used to emphasize something negative, shocking, or extreme.
Grammar
Dictionary form
stark
IPA
GB/stˈɑɹk/
US/stˈɑɹk/
Syllables & stress
stark (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (stark)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: stark
- Comparative: starker
- Superlative: starkest
Word family
Forms
starker
adjective
starkest
adjective
Core family
starkly
adverb
Related words
starkness
noun
Expressions
a stark choice
1/ə stˈɑɹk t͡ʃˈɔɪs/
fixed phrase
a very clear hard decision
A very clear and often difficult decision between two very different things.
Examples
- Voters face a stark choice between higher taxes and fewer public services.
- For many families, it is a stark choice: pay the rent or buy food.
- We are left with a stark choice: change our habits or accept the consequences.
a stark reminder
1/ə stˈɑɹk ɹimˈaɪndɚ/
fixed phrase
a strong clear reminder
Something that clearly and strongly makes you remember an unpleasant fact or event.
Examples
- The empty chair at the table was a stark reminder that he was gone.
- The floods are a stark reminder of how powerful nature can be.
- Her tired face was a stark reminder of how hard she had worked.
a stark warning
1/ə stˈɑɹk wˈɔɹnɪŋ/
fixed phrase
a very serious warning
A very clear and serious message that something bad may happen.
Examples
- The latest climate report is a stark warning to world leaders.
- His illness was a stark warning that he needed to change his lifestyle.
- The accident serves as a stark warning about the dangers of speeding.
in stark contrast (to)
1/ˈɪn stˈɑɹk kˈɑntɹæst tə/
fixed phrase
showing a very clear difference
Used to say that one thing is very different from another thing in a clear and strong way.
Examples
- Her simple black dress was in stark contrast to the bright costumes around her.
- The quiet of the countryside is in stark contrast to the noise of the city.
- Their calm response was in stark contrast to the panic on social media.
stark naked
1/stˈɑɹk nˈeɪkɪd/
fixed phrase
informal
completely without clothes
Wearing no clothes at all; completely naked.
Examples
- He ran out of the bathroom stark naked when he saw the spider.
- The children jumped into the lake stark naked.
- I opened the door by mistake and she was standing there stark naked.
stark raving mad
1/stˈɑɹk ɹˈeɪvɪŋ mˈæd/
idiom
informal
completely crazy
Extremely crazy or foolish, often used in a joking or strong way.
Examples
- People said he was stark raving mad to sell his house and move to the desert.
- You must be stark raving mad if you think that plan will work.
- She went stark raving mad when she found out what he had done.
the stark reality (of)
1/ðə stˈɑɹk ɹiˈæləti əv/
fixed phrase
the harsh and full truth
The complete and often unpleasant truth about a situation, with nothing hidden.
Examples
- The documentary shows the stark reality of life in the refugee camp.
- Many young people are not prepared for the stark reality of the job market.
- After the party, the stark reality of the mess in the kitchen hit us.
the stark truth
1/ðə stˈɑɹk tɹˈuθ/
fixed phrase
the plain often unpleasant truth
The complete and often unpleasant truth, said in a very direct way.
Examples
- He finally told her the stark truth about why the company had fired her.
- The article presents the stark truth about the cost of health care.
- It was hard to hear, but it was the stark truth.