- in a harsh, grim, or desolate way: Working in the slums confronted us starkly with the sufferings of others.
- extremely simply, sparely, or austerely: Even in wealthier households, bedrooms were starkly furnished, with just a bed and perhaps a chair and a small table.
- in a blunt or sternly plain way, without softening: To put it more starkly, your great-grandmother was a common criminal.
- in a way that is highly contrastive; distinctly or sharply: The case presents two starkly different views of mobile device targeting by advertisers.
- completely or utterly; downright: We both know that it's starkly impossible to hide an operation as big as that from a spy system as good as theirs.
