a stark contrast — sharp difference (emphatic, often visual or conceptual)
a very clear and obvious difference between two things, often used to highlight how two situations, people, or things are completely different in a way that is easy to notice.
Say it like a native
Textbook Her calm manner was very clearly different from his panic.
Native Her calm was in stark contrast to his panic.
'In stark contrast to' is the set phrase for a striking, obvious difference.
Pattern: a stark contrast (between A and B) | in stark contrast (to/with something)
In use
- There was a stark contrast between the lively atmosphere inside the restaurant and the quiet street outside.daily life
- When I visited the city, I was struck by the stark contrast between the modern skyscrapers and the old, traditional houses.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ Her calm was in stark contrast with his panic.
✓ Her calm was in stark contrast to his panic.
Usually 'in stark contrast TO'; 'to' is the safe default.
Common collocations
in stark contrast to— in, to, stand, stands
Don't confuse it
Unlike the general use of 'contrast' at B1/B2 (any difference), 'a stark contrast' is specifically used to stress that the difference is very obvious or dramatic.