dark 1 of 2

adjective

ˈdärk How to pronounce dark (audio)
Definition of darknext
1
as in darkened
being without light or without much light a dark alley that most people wisely avoided

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2
as in black
not having a light complexion he was tall, dark, and handsome

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3
as in bleak
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer her mind was filled with dark thoughts until the results of the medical test came back as negative

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4
as in silent
given to keeping one's activities hidden from public observation or knowledge the actor was always quite dark about his life before his arrival in Hollywood

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5
as in ambiguous
having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning the superhero was not daunted by the villain's dark threats

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6
as in ignorant
lacking in education or the knowledge gained from books is known as a dark period in European history when people lived in ignorance, fear, and want

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7
as in evil
not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable dark deeds that resulted in the Russian czar being known to history as Ivan the Terrible

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dark

2 of 2

noun

1
as in shadows
a time or place of little or no light I have a bad habit of running into tables in the dark

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2
as in night
the time from sunset to sunrise when there is no visible sunlight we were going to wait until dark to go trick-or-treating

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word dark different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of dark are ambiguous, cryptic, enigmatic, equivocal, obscure, and vague. While all these words mean "not clearly understandable," dark implies an imperfect or clouded revelation often with ominous or sinister suggestion.

muttered dark hints of revenge

In what contexts can ambiguous take the place of dark?

The meanings of ambiguous and dark largely overlap; however, ambiguous applies to language capable of more than one interpretation.

an ambiguous directive

When might cryptic be a better fit than dark?

While in some cases nearly identical to dark, cryptic implies a purposely concealed meaning.

cryptic hints of hidden treasure

When could enigmatic be used to replace dark?

The synonyms enigmatic and dark are sometimes interchangeable, but enigmatic stresses a puzzling, mystifying quality.

enigmatic occult writings

When can equivocal be used instead of dark?

The words equivocal and dark are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, equivocal applies to language left open to differing interpretations with the intention of deceiving or evading.

moral precepts with equivocal phrasing

When is obscure a more appropriate choice than dark?

In some situations, the words obscure and dark are roughly equivalent. However, obscure implies a hiding or veiling of meaning through some inadequacy of expression or withholding of full knowledge.

obscure poems

When would vague be a good substitute for dark?

While the synonyms vague and dark are close in meaning, vague implies a lack of clear formulation due to inadequate conception or consideration.

a vague sense of obligation

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 dark
Adjective
The serum is a beyond-potent combination of 15 percent vitamin C, one percent vitamin E, and 0.5 percent ferulic acid formulated to brighten skin, fade dark spots and hyperpigmentation, and target fine lines and wrinkles. —Kara Nesvig, Allure, 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
Noun
Both now high in the sky after dark, Jupiter shines brightly among the stars of Taurus and close to the Pleiades (or Seven Sisters) open cluster of stars, while Mars is shining close to the twin stars of Gemini, Castor and Pollux. —Jamie Carter, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025 The storms will continue into the late evening and overnight and impact places such as Atlanta after dark. —Eric Zerkel, CNN, 15 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dark
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dark
  1. black
  2. bleak
  3. silent
  4. ambiguous
  5. ignorant
  6. evil
  7. night
  8. murky
Adjective
  • The Glasses’ collection features three color stories, neutral tones inspired by the siblings’ homeland; the red and black hues recalling Navajo dyeing techniques, and indigo.
    — Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Opt for the classic walnut or this contemporary black hue.
    — Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of black
Adjective
  • All of these episodes have different types of endings: There’s bleak to total cliffhanger to sentimental.
    — Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 11 Apr. 2025
  • Some practical frameworks and strategies enable leaders to maintain stability, foster engagement, and position their teams for success even when the economic outlook appears bleak.
    — Kara Dennison, SPHR, CPRW, EC, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of bleak
Adjective
  • So far, the ESA has been silent on Trump excluding video game consoles from his tariff exemptions.
    — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 14 Apr. 2025
  • The Taliban are also silent on the other restrictions and whether there is any chance of removing them.
    — Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
Definition of silent
Adjective
  • Religion is the topic most likely to cause offense in India today, though the code is ambiguous on this point too.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 Apr. 2025
  • One thing that is not ambiguous is that the spirit is drawing Mia into its world a little at a time.
    — Katie Rife, Vulture, 31 Mar. 2025
Definition of ambiguous
Adjective
  • Some ignorant f*** called in a fake hostage situation.
    — Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025
  • In this environment, unscrupulous or ignorant producers sold rotten food or foods preserved in dangerous substances to unwitting consumers.
    — Yong Kwon / Made by History, TIME, 7 Mar. 2025
Definition of ignorant
Adjective
  • At the time of Vallow's death, Vallow Daybell was espousing the belief that he was possessed by an evil spirit, the prosecution said.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Last season, there was an episode that featured an evil streaming executive — who dressed like, kind of looked like and whose name even sounded like Bela Bajaria, Netflix’s chief creative officer and your boss.
    — Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of evil
Noun
  • Braeden Phillips, 20, was arrested Friday night and remained jailed over the weekend without bail, the Centre Daily Times reported.
    — Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 14 Apr. 2025
  • The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) tallied more than 770,000 people experiencing homelessness on a single night, an 18 percent increase from 2023.
    — Julia Mueller, The Hill, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of night
Adjective
  • Details are still murky with the plan yet to be formally presented to the all-powerful ICC board.
    — Tristan Lavalette, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The process, however, has been murky based on which military branch people are looking to return to, with only the Navy offering a solid idea of the decision.
    — Ellen Mitchell, The Hill, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of murky

Phrases Containing dark

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daringness
dark
dark age
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Cite this Entry

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

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