stark

Universal Words adjective, adverb adjective (starker, starkest) 1 (often disapproving) looking severe and without any colour or decoration: I think white would be too stark for the bedroom. * The hills stood stark against the winter sky. 2 unpleasant; real, and impossible to avoid: The author paints a stark picture of life in a prison camp. * a stark choice / warning * The remains of the building stand as a stark reminder of the fire. * He now faces the stark reality of life in prison. * The stark fact is that even with more time, we still couldn't raise enough money. 3 very different to sth in a way that is easy to see: stark alternatives / differences * Social divisions in the city are stark. * The good weather was in stark contrast to the storms of previous weeks. 4 [onlybeforenoun] complete and total: The children watched in stark terror. starkly adverb: The interior is starkly simple. * The lighthouse stood out starkly against the dark sky. * We are starkly aware of the risks. * These theories contrast starkly with the reality of everyday life. starkness noun [U] adverb ~ naked completely naked IDIOMS see RAVING