black 1 of 3

1
as in ebony
having the color of soot or coal we adopted a little black kitten

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
as in brunette
not having a light complexion a black Irishman, Tyrone Power had the classic looks of a Hollywood leading man

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black

2 of 3

noun

black

3 of 3

verb

chiefly British

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of black
Adjective
Attaching the Freyja to a Chair The Freyja is a black pad that measures 38 by 16 inches (HW) and has soft, flat padding arranged in polygonal panels. PCMAG, 15 Mar. 2025 After signing autographs and posing for photos at O’Hare, Blagojevich landed in Denver and then hopped into a black SUV with two of his attorneys to report to the prison — with a camera-toting helicopter tracking his movement and the image streamed live on TV websites. Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 15 Mar. 2025
Noun
Take your pick from black to mocha to crisp, winter white. Taylor Jean Stephan, Peoplemag, 31 Jan. 2023 Flaunt this fun, floral style, or opt for their best-selling classic black. Meg Donohue, Town & Country, 31 Jan. 2023 See All Example Sentences for black
Recent Examples of Synonyms for black
Adjective
  • California launched the ebony alert for missing black children in 2024 after authorizing legislation was passed the prior year.
    Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 8 Apr. 2025
  • The leopard part of the breed has to do with her Dalmatian-like ebony spots and lightly colored coat.
    TJ Macias, Miami Herald, 28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Store green tea products in an airtight container in a cool, dry, dark place.
    Lindsay Curtis, Verywell Health, 4 Apr. 2025
  • TikTok briefly went dark in the US and was pulled from app stores on Jan. 18.
    Chloe Albanesius, PC Magazine, 4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • In its time open, fueled by fans of its blackened mahi and buttery lobster rolls, owner Mike Smith has expanded his footprint, moving into a larger stall in the popular food hall — which has allowed for a menu expansion, as well.
    Amy Drew Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 6 Dec. 2022
  • There are no glamorous furnishings — just a French window, its blackened panes suggesting the dark of night.
    Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2022
Noun
  • In each image, a patch of purple with neon pink veins floats in the blackness of space, surrounded by flecks of light.
    Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 5 Feb. 2025
  • Shot in inky blackness, Kyle Edward Ball’s film taps into that primal childhood fear of calling out for your parents in the dark and hearing no reply.
    Gayle Sequeira, Vulture, 20 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Mulvaney's video with the product shared on April 1, ensued was one of the year's biggest culture wars, with conservatives boycotting the beer.
    Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
  • In response to President Donald Trump's tariffs on Canadian imports to the U.S., many Canadians are boycotting American goods, particularly whiskey.
    Made by History, Time, 8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The racks of fox, mink and Mongolian at booths, including the Igala NYC and the Jennie Walker Archive, which was selling a sable coat for $2,495, were swarmed by shoppers, many already wearing fur.
    Dolly Faibyshev, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2025
  • What felt like a Cinderella story at the start is exposed as a Faustian bargain with a sable coat thrown in.
    Lily Burana, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • He was last seen wearing a gray jumpsuit and black and red shoes.
    Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Juarez left the store in a gray Chevy Silverado pickup truck.
    David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Elements of her can be found on Lioness in Zoe Saldaña’s Joe McNamara, a CIA operative trying to save the world from the swarthy — terrorists in Season One, Mexican cartels in Season Two — while raising two girls.
    Stephen Rodrick, Rolling Stone, 9 Mar. 2025
  • Jett Rink was a really malevolent varmint, and kind of swarthy and dark.
    Jeff Conway, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Black.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/black. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.

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