What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
starless
Example
The sky was starless and dark, with no moon to light the way. [starless: adjective]
Example
The city's bright lights made it impossible to see any starless skies. [starless: adjective]
Example
She felt starless and alone after her breakup. [starless: adjective]
unstarred
Example
The unstarred items on the grocery list are the ones we can skip for now. [unstarred: adjective]
Example
I received an unstarred email from my boss, so I knew it wasn't urgent. [unstarred: adjective]
Example
The movie was unstarred and didn't receive any nominations for awards. [unstarred: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Unstarred is more commonly used than starless in everyday language, especially in a business or organizational context. Starless is less common and has a more poetic or dramatic connotation.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between starless and unstarred?
Both starless and unstarred are relatively neutral in terms of formality, although unstarred may be slightly more formal due to its business connotations.