as in deserts
land that is uninhabited or not fit for crops
lived out in the barrens where it was impossible to grow anything
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Recent Examples of barrens
The forests are marked by sparse conifer stands, woodlands, herbaceous vegetation, and unvegetated barrens that dominate the transition to Arctic tundra.
—
Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 10 Feb. 2026
The population surge caused widespread urchin barrens across the islands.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 12 Dec. 2025
Given the surrounding terrain, largely comprising volcanic barrens and lava fields, the risk of wildfire remains low, and no life-threatening impacts have been identified.
—Isabel Van Brugen, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025
Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 10 Feb. 2026
The population surge caused widespread urchin barrens across the islands.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 12 Dec. 2025
Given the surrounding terrain, largely comprising volcanic barrens and lava fields, the risk of wildfire remains low, and no life-threatening impacts have been identified.
—Isabel Van Brugen, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for barrens
deserts
Noun
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Banks says part of Cadence OTC’s goal is to serve health care deserts by placing its contraceptive and UTI relief products in convenience stores, such as 7-Elevens, rather than pharmacies where these products already exist.—
Alyssa Goldberg,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
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Sheila cruised through stunning mountain ranges and vast deserts — where surely no Reliant Robin has gone before.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Barrens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/barrens. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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