barren

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "barren" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe land that is too poor to produce much or any vegetation, or metaphorically to describe something that is devoid of something desirable. Example: "The once fertile valley now lay barren after years of drought."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

With eyes watering in the sharp wind, it was a relief to shelter under a high bank by the river, where dog violet, barren strawberry and thyme clung to the crumbly debris.

The Guardian

Therefore, he can "capture everything from the beach to the pine barren woods that fill New Jersey to the majestic skyscrapers of New York".

The Guardian

Related: California drought brings sound of silence to baked, barren farms In California's second-largest city, memories are still fresh of a devastating drought 25 years ago that saw the area's water supplies slashed by about a third.

The Guardian

After living on the ice for two months, the crew sailed their lifeboats to the small and barren Elephant Island, before risking their lives navigating a further 800 nautical miles to the South Georgia whaling stations to find help.

The Guardian - Travel

Instead, the best views are from the Jeddah-Mecca Highway, where the clocktower appears to rear out of the barren landscape in such an outlandish fashion it looks as if it has been drawn on to the skyline.

The Guardian - Arts

Northern Chile's barren and beautiful Atacama desert, one of the most arid places on the planet, seems an unlikely place to have interesting menus, let alone abundant and fresh ingredients.

The Guardian - Travel

Such a barren run made some players appreciate the bye last weekend, while others have been champing at the bit for a chance at righting the ship.

The Guardian - Sport

The school has a barren compound, which means the school buildings have little protection from heavy storms.

The Guardian

Scenes of deprivation on a barren mountaintop galvanised a US-driven international response and led to air strikes against jihadist positions on either side of the 72km (45-mile) ridge.

The Guardian

(In 1966, the district's mixed race population were forced out of their homes and relocated to the barren Cape Flats).

The Guardian

Landlocked and increasingly barren due to climate change, Chad is also straining to accommodate 150,000 of its citizens entering from the desert north – returnee guest workers expelled from Libya after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing emotional or intellectual states, use "barren" to emphasize a complete lack of creativity, inspiration, or positive feelings. For example, "a barren mind" or "a barren period in his career".

Common error

Avoid using "barren" simply as a synonym for "empty" or "lacking" in all contexts. "Barren" carries a stronger connotation of infertility or lack of potential, which might not be appropriate in every situation. Choose a more neutral term like "devoid" or "empty" if the specific nuance of infertility isn't intended.

Linguistic Context

Adjective. The word "barren" primarily functions as an adjective, modifying nouns to describe a state of being unproductive, infertile, or devoid of something. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples of "barren" modifying various nouns such as land, landscape, mind, and career.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Formal & Business

17%

Science

17%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "barren" is a versatile adjective widely used to describe conditions lacking productivity, fertility, or desirable qualities. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and most frequently found in news and media contexts. While "barren" is powerful for emphasizing a complete lack, avoid overuse by considering alternatives like "infertile", "desolate", or "unproductive" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Remember that "barren" suggests more than just emptiness; it implies an inherent inability to produce or thrive.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Infertile

Focuses specifically on the inability to produce offspring or vegetation.

Desolate

Emphasizes the loneliness and emptiness of a place.

Unproductive

Highlights the lack of output or results.

Sterile

Indicates an inability to produce life, whether biological or metaphorical.

Empty

Stresses the absence of content or substance.

Bleak

Conveys a sense of hopelessness and lack of promise.

Devoid

Highlights the absence of something that is expected or desired.

Fruitless

Indicates a lack of positive outcomes or results.

Arid

Focuses on the dryness and lack of moisture, often in the context of land.

Waste

Suggests a desolate and unused area.

FAQs

How can I use "barren" in a sentence?

You can use "barren" to describe physical landscapes like "a barren desert", or metaphorically to describe a lack of creativity or productivity, such as "a barren period in her writing career".

What can I say instead of "barren"?

You can use alternatives like "infertile" to describe land, or "desolate" to emphasize emptiness. Other options include "unproductive" or "sterile", depending on the context.

Which is correct, "barren landscape" or "sterile landscape"?

While both can be used, "barren landscape" is generally more common. "Sterile landscape" is also acceptable, emphasizing the inability of the land to produce life, but "barren" is more widely understood and frequently used in this context.

What's the difference between "barren" and "empty"?

"Barren" implies a lack of fertility or productivity, suggesting an inability to produce anything. "Empty" simply means lacking contents. A room can be empty, but a field is more accurately described as "barren" if it cannot produce crops.