starkly

American

[stahrk-lee] / ˈstɑrk li /

adverb

in a harsh, grim, or desolate way.

Working in the slums confronted us starkly with the sufferings of others.
extremely simply, sparely, or austerely.

Even in wealthier households, bedrooms were starkly furnished, with just a bed and perhaps a chair and a small table.
in a blunt or sternly plain way, without softening.

To put it more starkly, your great-grandmother was a common criminal.
in a way that is highly contrastive; distinctly or sharply.

The case presents two starkly different views of mobile device targeting by advertisers.
completely or utterly; downright.

We both know that it's starkly impossible to hide an operation as big as that from a spy system as good as theirs.

Etymology

Origin of starkly

First recorded before 900; stark ( def. ) + -ly ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A palette of soft pinks, purples and blues lend warmth and dimension to Rana’s starkly beautiful home.

From The Wall Street Journal

For the others, however, it’s a starkly different story.

From Barron's

The sight starkly illustrated an ongoing battle to maintain the UK's historic, yet deteriorating, waterways.

From Barron's

The belief in herself allows Sabalenka to dig herself out of sticky situations, starkly illustrated by an incredible record in tie-breaks.

From Barron's

State and federal officials have given starkly different accounts.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023