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Definition of darknext
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as in black
not having a light complexion he was tall, dark, and handsome

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

dark

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noun

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 film takes the story in a darker direction, with the crisis spreading to a second city and fresh quarantine measures coming into force as protagonist Maya continues hunting for her younger brother Adi. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 28 Apr. 2026 Police sent up a drone that arrived before officers and beamed back images of the man on the rooftop of a building, kneeling down and placing into his backpack a dark object that police believed was a handgun, according to the affidavit. Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
Support Natural Circadian Rhythm When traveling across three or more time zones, your circadian rhythm (your 24-hour internal clock) can't immediately adjust to the new time zone's light-dark cycle, resulting in jet lag. Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 6 May 2026 The early universe, a mere whisper after the Big Bang, just a few hundred million years old — that's when the first stars and galaxies were starting to flicker on, like fairy lights across a cosmic dark. Paul Sutter, Space.com, 4 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for dark
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dark
Adjective
  • Conventional semiconductor lasers are compact and efficient—but also dim and dependent on bulky, complex optics.
    IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 7 May 2026
  • Stair nosings get a strip of contrasting tone, so the edge stays visible when the hallway is dim.
    Amy Kunst, Sacbee.com, 7 May 2026
Adjective
  • There's no need for Cher to want to turn back time, as the music legend arrived at the Met Gala in black lace and leather.
    Anika Reed, USA Today, 5 May 2026
  • Storrie wore a black Saint Laurent suit with a polka dot high-neck top that featured a long flowing scarf.
    Dalila Muata, NBC news, 5 May 2026
Adjective
  • Speaking at an event held at the Aloft Hotel in Doral, a hub for Venezuelan diaspora activism, Guanipa painted a bleak picture of conditions inside Venezuela and sharply criticized the country’s current leadership, accusing those in power of clinging to control despite widespread rejection.
    Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 2 May 2026
  • Without giving too much away about the endings of Caveat and Oddity, McCarthy (like Ohm) leans toward the bleak and open-ended.
    Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 1 May 2026
Adjective
  • In its megacities and beyond, traffic is increasingly falling silent, the dull whir of the electric motor replacing the purr of an internal combustion engine.
    Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 2 May 2026
  • This is where Audible will host events nearly every day this month, including author conversations, trivia, open mics, craft workshops and silent book clubs.
    Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 1 May 2026
Adjective
  • And that ambiguous statement raised alarms not just with workers but also with human rights groups such as Amnesty International, which issued a World Cup travel advisory for visitors planning on attending the tournament.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
  • The official public warnings for the next Soyuz rocket launch from Plesetsk were even more ambiguous, covering various periods between April 1 and 15.
    Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • But even for someone like myself, totally ignorant to the lore and not really seeking to change that, the Star Wars universe can look genuinely interesting, and some games every now and then manage to tap into that potential.
    Adam Ismail, The Drive, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Jahmil Eady – Freaky As gentrifiers take over her neighborhood, a Gullah Geechee woman, Annabelle (Melanie Nicholls-King) calls on ancestral knowledge, which has dire consequences for the newcomers who have begun to take over the land, ignorant of its history.
    Richard Newby, HollywoodReporter, 27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • For one thing, when extremely evil people never seem to get their righteous and fiery comeuppance, my rage can curdle a bit.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 May 2026
  • Because instead of some hot, evil British woman who could show him the time of his life, Vish is stuck on this trip with me, the world’s first living fossil.
    Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
Noun
  • Observing tips The lunar disk is entirely bereft of shadows during the full moon phase, making this the perfect time to trace the outline of lunar maria — where lava flows filled colossal impact basins billions of years ago before hardening to form sweeping basaltic plains.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 1 May 2026
  • The Harrison County Health Department notes dark clothing resembles the shadows where mosquitoes hide.
    Ryan Brennan May 1, Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Dark.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dark. Accessed 8 May. 2026.

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