Meanings
comparative more starkly · superlative most starkly
- In a stark manner; with great contrast.
The dark mountains stood out starkly against the pale sky.
1 more example
We initially came to this data collection technique through research conducted into the linguistic landscape at NIE which yielded an overwhelmingly English-biased signage which was starkly at odds with our own day-to-day experience at the institute.
2019, Li Huang, James Lambert, “Another Arrow for the Quiver: A New Methodology for Multilingual Researchers”, in Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, →DOI, page 1
Origin
- Proto-Germanic*starkulīka“strongly; stiffly”
- Old Englishstearclīċe“strongly; stoutly; vigorously; vehemently; fiercely; strictly”
- Middle Englishstarkli
- Englishstarkly
From Middle English starkli, starcliche, sterkliche, stercliche, from Old English stearclīċe (“strongly; stoutly; vigorously; vehemently; fiercely; strictly”), from Proto-Germanic *starkulīka (“strongly; stiffly”), from *starkulīkaz (“strong; rigid”), from *starkuz (“strong; stiff; stark”), equivalent to stark + -ly.
More words from Middle English, Old English, Proto-Germanic
Full word history & related roots →Rhymes & wordplay
Anagrams
Cite this entry
starkly. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/starkly
“starkly.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/starkly. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “starkly,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/starkly.
Source: starkly on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.