as in spartan
providing only the essentials and nothing fancy or luxurious
a low-cost, no-frills vacation during which we camped out and cooked our own meals
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of no-frills
The Whoop is a no-frills wristband built for function over fashion, while the Oura is a sleek, jewelry-like smart ring that sits on your finger.
—
Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 22 Apr. 2026
Wisconsin Cheese Curds For anyone who appreciates honest, no-frills bar food, cheese curds are essential eating in Wisconsin.
—Lauren Schuster, Kansas City Star, 21 Apr. 2026
Either way, the classic look of this piece will fit seamlessly in a no-frills bathroom.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 16 Apr. 2026
Set near the foot of South Mountain and its 100 miles of trails, Wonderift adopts an earthy ethos, recycling grounds and providing a no-velvet-couch, no-frills hangout to hikers.
—Chris Malloy, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for no-frills
Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 22 Apr. 2026
Wisconsin Cheese Curds For anyone who appreciates honest, no-frills bar food, cheese curds are essential eating in Wisconsin.
—Lauren Schuster, Kansas City Star, 21 Apr. 2026
Either way, the classic look of this piece will fit seamlessly in a no-frills bathroom.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 16 Apr. 2026
Set near the foot of South Mountain and its 100 miles of trails, Wonderift adopts an earthy ethos, recycling grounds and providing a no-velvet-couch, no-frills hangout to hikers.
—Chris Malloy, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for no-frills
Recent Examples of Synonyms for no-frills
Adjective
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The overall aesthetic was slightly ascetic without being spartan—a pale, neutral color palette; simple, modern furniture; a few pieces of abstract art.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Plot details are under wraps but according to the spartan official synopsis, the psychological thriller unfolds in a seemingly idyllic and takes audiences on a vertiginous dive into the shifting limits of a sound mind, as grief and obsession take hold.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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July 23 – August 22 Clarity today comes from keeping your message simple and grounded.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
30 Apr. 2026
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Brown said Atlanta was taking away the Knicks’ spray game, which made the answer simpler.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
It is built for use in austere terrain where conventional aircraft may struggle to operate.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Unless designed with care, xeriscapes can look bare and austere.—
Lee Wallender,
The Spruce,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“No-frills.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/no-frills. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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