stark resemblance

USAGE SUMMARY

'stark resemblance' is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe two or more things that are similar in a striking or obvious way. For example, "The new painting was a stark resemblance to the artist's previous work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

A woman at the school who bore a stark resemblance to her refused to identify herself or comment on the matter.

The New York Times

Upon the character's introduction, Lisa Respers France of CNN wrote that she was "praying" that Shelby would turn out to be Rachel's biological mother, noting the stark resemblance between the two actresses.

Wikipedia

Icelandic developer CCP's long-running space-opera MMO, in which players zip about a massive galaxy in spaceships, trading and building and fighting and destroying, has been turned into a warzone on numerous occasions and these eruptions of violence bear stark resemblance to actual historical conflicts.

Vice

During the interminable rant by the candidate himself the final night, there dawned on me the realization that I had seen this all before: There was a stark resemblance between the Donald and Mussolini, not only the way he jutted his chin upwards after a promise he shouted but also in his claim that "only I can fix" the litany of problems and anxieties he laid bare.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

And now a lump formed in my throat every morning, as I tentatively roused the frail outline curled into a ball, each day bearing a starker resemblance to a child.

The Guardian

Mr. Wainwright of Europol said it was a stark reminder that reality bore little resemblance to Hollywood cliches of pedophile kidnappers or strangers lurking in dark alleys.

The New York Times

He questions a smith's apprentice whom Jon Arryn had visited in his last days and, due to his resemblance to King Robert, Stark deduces that the boy is the king's bastard son.

Wikipedia

As they sit together, the resemblance between the two is striking: both have stark silver hair, lean tan faces and bright blue eyes.

The New York Times

It's not all portraiture, though; there's self-portaiture as well, as in the stark, lovely ballad "Love Abides," which bears more than a passing resemblance to Bruce Springsteen's "All That Heaven Will Allow".

The New Yorker

To flu researchers and public-health officials, the resemblance of the 1918 sequence to those of common avian flus underscores the stark fact that there is more than one way for a virulent strain like H5N1 to make the jump and become transmissible person to person.

The New York Times - Magazine

In stark contrast to previous reports, our results indicated that neither the size of eyespot-like stimulus nor a close resemblance to the vertebrate eye is critical.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "stark resemblance" when you want to emphasize a similarity that is both obvious and somewhat surprising or unexpected. It adds a layer of intensity to the comparison.

Common error

Avoid using "stark resemblance" in situations where a simple "similarity" would suffice. The phrase carries a weight that can sound overly dramatic in everyday conversation. Opt for simpler terms when the context doesn't require emphasis.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "stark resemblance" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often appearing as the object or subject complement in a sentence. It describes a strong and noticeable similarity between two or more things. Ludwig AI affirms this with its analysis of grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Academia

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "stark resemblance" is a phrase used to highlight a clear and often surprising similarity. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, although it's relatively rare in everyday language. It's most frequently found in news and media, employed to emphasize notable parallels. Alternatives like "striking similarity" and "marked likeness" offer similar meanings. When using this phrase, ensure the context warrants the emphasis on a similarity that is more than just casual or superficial.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

striking similarity

Focuses on the similarity being very noticeable or impressive.

marked likeness

Highlights a distinct and observable similarity between two subjects.

clear similarity

Emphasizes the obvious and easily seen similarities.

strong correspondence

Indicates a robust and notable alignment or parallel.

close parallel

Suggests a tight and almost identical comparison between two things.

obvious mirroring

Highlights that one thing is clearly reflecting or imitating another.

pronounced mirroring

Emphasizes the degree to which one thing is mirroring another.

noticeable similarity

Indicates that the similarity is easily observed or recognized.

evident likeness

Stresses that the similarity is apparent and unmistakable.

distinct correspondence

Underlines the clarity and separateness of the aligned elements.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "stark resemblance" in a sentence?

Employ "stark resemblance" to highlight similarities that are surprisingly clear or unexpected. For instance, "The defendant's alibi bore a "stark resemblance" to the victim's account, raising serious doubts about his innocence."

What are some alternatives to "stark resemblance"?

Consider using alternatives like "striking similarity", "marked likeness", or "clear similarity" to express similar ideas with slightly different nuances.

Is there a difference between "stark resemblance" and "passing resemblance"?

"Stark resemblance" implies a very strong and noticeable similarity, whereas "passing resemblance" suggests a slight or superficial similarity. Choose "stark" to emphasize the strength of the likeness.

When is it appropriate to use "stark resemblance" over other similar phrases?

Use "stark resemblance" when you want to convey not only similarity but also a sense of surprise or intensity in the likeness. It's ideal when the resemblance is more than just superficial or casual.