See More

Some common synonyms of bald<\/em> are bare<\/em><\/a>, barren<\/em><\/a>, naked<\/em><\/a>, and nude<\/em><\/a>. While all these words mean \"deprived of naturally or conventionally appropriate covering,\" bald<\/em> implies actual or seeming absence of natural covering and may suggest a conspicuous bareness.<\/p>

\/\/ a bald<\/em> mountain peak<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When can 'bare' be used instead of 'bald'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

Although the words bare<\/em><\/a> and bald<\/em> have much in common, bare<\/em> implies the removal of what is additional, superfluous, ornamental, or dispensable.<\/p>

\/\/ an apartment with bare<\/em> walls<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Where would 'barren' be a reasonable alternative to 'bald'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

In some situations, the words barren<\/em><\/a> and bald<\/em> are roughly equivalent. However, barren<\/em> often suggests aridity or impoverishment or sterility.<\/p>

\/\/ barren<\/em> plains<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When might 'naked' be a better fit than 'bald'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

The words naked<\/em><\/a> and bald<\/em> are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, naked<\/em> suggests absence of protective or ornamental covering but may imply a state of nature, of destitution, or of defenselessness.<\/p>

\/\/ poor half-naked<\/em> children<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When could 'nude' be used to replace 'bald'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

The synonyms nude<\/em><\/a> and bald<\/em> are sometimes interchangeable, but nude<\/em> applies especially to the unclothed human figure.<\/p>

\/\/ a nude<\/em> model posing for art students<\/p>" } } ] }

bald

adjective

ˈbȯld How to pronounce bald (audio)
Definition of baldnext
1
as in bare
lacking a usual or natural covering trees that are bald in the winter aren't the best for giving a home year-round privacy

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in simple
free from all additions or embellishment try to avoid the bald statement "You're wrong!" when trying to reason with someone

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in obvious
not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation her angry neighbor's bald accusations of stealing his mail offended her

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective bald differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of bald are bare, barren, naked, and nude. While all these words mean "deprived of naturally or conventionally appropriate covering," bald implies actual or seeming absence of natural covering and may suggest a conspicuous bareness.

a bald mountain peak

When can bare be used instead of bald?

Although the words bare and bald have much in common, bare implies the removal of what is additional, superfluous, ornamental, or dispensable.

an apartment with bare walls

Where would barren be a reasonable alternative to bald?

In some situations, the words barren and bald are roughly equivalent. However, barren often suggests aridity or impoverishment or sterility.

barren plains

When might naked be a better fit than bald?

The words naked and bald are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, naked suggests absence of protective or ornamental covering but may imply a state of nature, of destitution, or of defenselessness.

poor half-naked children

When could nude be used to replace bald?

The synonyms nude and bald are sometimes interchangeable, but nude applies especially to the unclothed human figure.

a nude model posing for art students

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bald His bald photo, still circulating to millions, had suddenly shifted from a triumphant fan moment to a cautionary tale about counting your chickens before the league year starts. —Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Mar. 2026 The Crosby Deal Falls Apart A mere 30 minutes after the fan’s bald photo went viral, the Raiders took to social media with a stunning announcement. —Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026 The gap between the fan’s triumphant bald selfie and the trade blowing up was half an hour. —Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 12 Mar. 2026 Who was this bald French guy with a distractingly English accent? —Richard Edwards, Space.com, 12 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bald
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bald
  1. bare
  2. simple
  3. obvious
  4. exposed
  5. naked
  6. unmistakable
  7. peeled
  8. plain
Adjective
  • Iconic mountain towns like Aspen, Colorado, and Park City, Utah, were seen with shockingly bare slopes, as the region endured a historic snow drought that experts warn could bring water shortages and wildfires in the months ahead.
    — Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
  • The finale stretched out over two hours, and by the time Canada, Shires, and Jason Boland, respectively, stepped into the spotlight to cap the night, the love and admiration for Snider had been laid bare.
    — Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 21 Mar. 2026
Definition of bare
Adjective
  • In Catanzaro Lido, a beach town along the Ionian coast, meals tend to be simple and communal.
    — Jenna Curcio, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Mar. 2026
  • In her first interview since becoming head of content at Disney+ EMEA, Angela Jain has said the message to writers and producers is simple, the streamer is going to greenlight more originals from the region and will be backing that effort with extra funds for local fare.
    — Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 25 Mar. 2026
Definition of simple
Adjective
  • Feel free to cut off really obvious dead portions, then wait a month or two and look for possibly more decline.
    — Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2026
  • Some people would argue that the basic apparatus of cinema — a camera that then flattens images into two dimensions to be projected on a screen — hasn’t changed much since the Lumière brothers, despite obvious technological advancements.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 20 Mar. 2026
Definition of obvious
Adjective
  • Rushing cotton through the system throws up new challenges, leaving brands and retailers more exposed.
    — Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 12 Mar. 2026
  • The objective is to reduce exposed equity within the entity in a lawful and structured manner.
    — Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 11 Mar. 2026
Definition of exposed
Adjective
  • Head outside tonight and drink in the sight of the Pleiades open star cluster glistening close to the red star Aldebaran in the constellation Taurus, before the mesmerizing naked-eye jewel slips out of view with the changing of the seasons.
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 24 Mar. 2026
  • Not only naked but barefoot, too.
    — Agnieszka Szpila, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
Definition of naked
Adjective
  • The greenery tightened, the road narrowed, and a block-long red wall emerged from the scrub, abrupt and unmistakable.
    — Adam Ciralsky, Vanity Fair, 19 Mar. 2026
  • Chavez’ enduring presence in the region is unmistakable and many communities will face tough choices about how to respond.
    — Ryan Carter, Daily News, 18 Mar. 2026
Definition of unmistakable
Adjective
  • Purchase pre-peeled garlic cloves in bulk or peel the garlic cloves yourself using the flat side of a large knife to mash them slightly and then peel off the skins.
    — Jenavieve Christensen, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Feb. 2026
  • Use pre-peeled carrots or bagged baby carrots to save prep time.
    — Renu Dhar, Southern Living, 24 Nov. 2025
Definition of peeled
Adjective
  • Words are better at suggesting ambiguity than plain numbers or emojis.
    — Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2026
  • Experts break down the good, the concerning, and just plain confusing aspects of these controversial recommendations with athletes in mind.
    — Outside, Outside, 24 Mar. 2026
Definition of plain

Browse Nearby Words

balcony
bald
balderdash
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bald.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bald. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on bald

Nglish: Translation of bald for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of dross

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Are You Misusing These 10 Common Words?

5 Verbal Slip Ups and Language Mistakes

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

12 Words for Signs of Spring

The Opposite of Déjà Vu

The Words of the Week - Mar. 27

Why do we call it a 'pipe dream'?

Why do we call it a 'flea market'?
See More

Popular

See More

Are You Misusing These 10 Common Words?

12 Words for Signs of Spring

The Opposite of Déjà Vu
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
little boy with a magnifying glass looking at footprints
Quiz: Spot the Misspelled Word! Think you can detect a spelling error from a mile...
See All