1
as in desolate
producing inferior or only a small amount of vegetation
if tobacco fields aren't allowed to lie idle once every few years, they will become barren
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sterile
not able to produce fruit or offspring
the pear tree appears to be barren
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in unsuccessful
producing no results
that line of investigation proved barren, so the police tried other avenues
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in devoid
utterly lacking in something needed, wanted, or expected
their proposal for revitalizing the downtown business district is utterly barren of useful ideas
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in desert
land that is uninhabited or not fit for crops
lived out in the barrens where it was impossible to grow anything
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of barren
Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
The newcomers had to work with hoes and shovels on dry, barren terraces above the village.
—Michael Sheridan, Vanity Fair, 8 Apr. 2026
Through the window, the lack of visible trees suggested a barren landscape, but looks are deceiving.
—Quanta Magazine, 6 Apr. 2026
Available in a multitude of shapes, sizes, and colors, shrubs add eye-catching dimension and character to barren areas.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for barren
Adjective
Haggerty noted what the Artemis crew saw on the moon’s surface, including steep canyon walls and barren wasteland.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
The newcomers had to work with hoes and shovels on dry, barren terraces above the village.
—Michael Sheridan, Vanity Fair, 8 Apr. 2026
Through the window, the lack of visible trees suggested a barren landscape, but looks are deceiving.
—Quanta Magazine, 6 Apr. 2026
Available in a multitude of shapes, sizes, and colors, shrubs add eye-catching dimension and character to barren areas.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for barren
Recent Examples of Synonyms for barren
Adjective
-
Introducing the setting with a majestic crane shot (particularly immersive in 3D), his camera soars above the cave and surveys the desolate landscape.—
Eric Kohn,
IndieWire,
24 Apr. 2026
-
For myself, having a Wrangler is the perfect vehicle to just drive these desolate roads.—
Morgan Korn,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The hospice movement that emerged in the latter half of the last century improved conditions for patients in the later years of life, replacing sterile, clinical hospital settings with holistic care centered on pain management, dignity, and quality of life.—
Tom Koutsoumpas,
Oc Register,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Schaffner said sterile male files that can't impregnate females were created in a laboratory.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The mammal’s health deteriorated as it became repeatedly stranded in shallow waters, and unsuccessful efforts to coax it toward deeper seas were livestreamed across the globe.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The child was taken to Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital in Azle, where additional lifesaving efforts were unsuccessful, the sheriff's office said.—
Doug Myers,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Too often, supporters have felt the players have struggled to even offer that, with meek away performances against Sunderland (3-0 defeat), Brighton & Hove Albion (2-0 defeat) and Everton (2-0 defeat) displaying a side devoid of belief and beaten before kick-off.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
-
In addition to the entire resort being devoid of single-use plastic, the property also participates in marine conservation efforts that include coral restoration and turtle rehabilitation.—
Christina Liao,
Vogue,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Most houses in the area were built by Palmer & Krisel, the architecture firm responsible for Palm Springs—from the car, see butterfly roofs; see lime-green desert modern; see hot pink, turquoise.—
Olivia Kan-Sperling,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
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Construction in the Arizona desert damaged an enormous Indigenous ground etching resembling a fish that is thought to be at least 1,000 years old.—
Jake Spring,
Washington Post,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
Democrats have attacked these anti-fraud policies as an effort to undermine safety net programs for the impoverished.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The redevelopment could begin unfolding as the Greater Hartford Gives Foundation, the former Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, begins construction on a new $35 million headquarters in Clay Arsenal, two major projects for the long-impoverished neighborhood.—
Kenneth R. Gosselin,
Hartford Courant,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Bayern coach José Barcala was also shown red by referee Ivana Martinčić for his protests, which were futile because a VAR check confirmed Kett’s foul.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
25 Apr. 2026
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The entire Earth knows it, and that makes trading Aiyuk for anything notable a nearly futile undertaking.—
Armando Salguero OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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According to an internal email sent to National Park Service staff in late December and viewed by the outlets, staff members have been instructed to ask visitors to take any stickers off their card or it could be considered void.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
28 Apr. 2026
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Lyman raised concerns about new reactor designs with positive void coefficients, including the Kemmerer Unit 1.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Barren.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/barren. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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