as in ships
a boat equipped with one or more sails
took a small bark out on the lake
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in shouts
to speak sharply or irritably
the new supervisor found that speaking to people with a civil tongue got better results than barking at them
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 barks
Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2026
And while humans can often discern animal distress calls or differentiate dog barks, many animal noises may seem inconsequential to the untrained human ear.
—Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 19 Mar. 2026
One hums with high-speed drills and anxiety; the other echoes with joyful barks and tail wags.
—Henry I. Miller, STAT, 28 Jan. 2026
On our third day, a late-afternoon beach landing on Sante Fe deposited us amid a colony of sleeping sea lions, their barks and coughs reverberating across the sandy shore.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 26 Jan. 2026
That Doberman, the two black Labradors and a standard poodle better watch out for the two Chihuahuas, their barks say.
—Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 23 Dec. 2025
The duo jumped and screamed in celebration, with their dogs joining the fun with a few barks and squeals.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 15 Dec. 2025
Two holiday barks sold at Aldi have been recalled nationwide.
—Jenna Anderson, Health, 1 Dec. 2025
Kates said the dogs at the home have aggressive barks but had not bitten anyone before.
—Abby Dodge, CBS News, 19 Nov. 2025
Devon Abelman, Allure, 24 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, the same neighbor’s dog barks at all hours, day and night, and a large shoe rack sits outside her door — an eyesore and a fire code violation.
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2026
The scolding was met with more meows and barks.
—Clara McMichael, ABC News, 15 Apr. 2026
The pup barks excitedly before the door swings open and Koch drops to her knees to receive kisses and greetings.
—Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 14 Apr. 2026
Sadie excitedly barks before the door opens and Koch drops to her knees to receive kisses and greetings from the pup.
—Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2026
Heck, even our beloved pup, Dale, barks whenever a squirrel’s hiding in the networking hardware!
—Jed Feiman, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
On these tracks Slayyyter uses her voice as a much blunter instrument than before, paring back the melisma and amping up the chants, barks, and outright screams.
—Harry Tafoya, Pitchfork, 2 Apr. 2026
In Network, Sidney Lumet cast Duvall as Frank Hackett, a broadcast television executive who barks about his lack of principles loudly and often.
—Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 27 Feb. 2026
Noun
Foxes use a variety of calls, including barks, howls, yaps, and growls.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2026
And while humans can often discern animal distress calls or differentiate dog barks, many animal noises may seem inconsequential to the untrained human ear.
—Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 19 Mar. 2026
One hums with high-speed drills and anxiety; the other echoes with joyful barks and tail wags.
—Henry I. Miller, STAT, 28 Jan. 2026
On our third day, a late-afternoon beach landing on Sante Fe deposited us amid a colony of sleeping sea lions, their barks and coughs reverberating across the sandy shore.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 26 Jan. 2026
That Doberman, the two black Labradors and a standard poodle better watch out for the two Chihuahuas, their barks say.
—Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 23 Dec. 2025
The duo jumped and screamed in celebration, with their dogs joining the fun with a few barks and squeals.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 15 Dec. 2025
Two holiday barks sold at Aldi have been recalled nationwide.
—Jenna Anderson, Health, 1 Dec. 2025
Kates said the dogs at the home have aggressive barks but had not bitten anyone before.
—Abby Dodge, CBS News, 19 Nov. 2025
Verb
Much like a dog that barks at every little noise and passerby, my skin is reactive.
—Devon Abelman, Allure, 24 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, the same neighbor’s dog barks at all hours, day and night, and a large shoe rack sits outside her door — an eyesore and a fire code violation.
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2026
The scolding was met with more meows and barks.
—Clara McMichael, ABC News, 15 Apr. 2026
The pup barks excitedly before the door swings open and Koch drops to her knees to receive kisses and greetings.
—Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 14 Apr. 2026
Sadie excitedly barks before the door opens and Koch drops to her knees to receive kisses and greetings from the pup.
—Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2026
Heck, even our beloved pup, Dale, barks whenever a squirrel’s hiding in the networking hardware!
—Jed Feiman, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
On these tracks Slayyyter uses her voice as a much blunter instrument than before, paring back the melisma and amping up the chants, barks, and outright screams.
—Harry Tafoya, Pitchfork, 2 Apr. 2026
In Network, Sidney Lumet cast Duvall as Frank Hackett, a broadcast television executive who barks about his lack of principles loudly and often.
—Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 27 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for barks
Noun
-
Despite the dramatic disruption, a small number of ships are still coming in and out of the Persian Gulf via the strait.—
Henrik Pettersson,
CNN Money,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The two new ships represent the sixth and seventh additions to the Icon class.—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In the ’80s, the Newport to Ensenada was touted as the world’s largest international race, with more than 600 yachts entering annually.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Foiling yachts typically run software that adjusts the foils hundreds of times a second to maintain safe, level flight.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The 3-billion-euro agreement included the purchase of 24 Rafale fighter jets and four state-of-the-art frigates including the Kimon, which Macron and Mitsotakis visited Saturday.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Japan agreed on April 18 on a deal to provide Australia's navy with the first of almost a dozen stealth frigates, part of a wider military build up by Canberra aimed at boosting its long-range firepower to deter China.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The abundance of teak also recalls traditional sailboats.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The tranquil, turquoise waters of this part of Virgin Gorda are ideal for yachts and sailboats, which stake out a spot here for a night or two.—
Carley Rojas Avila,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Barks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/barks. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
