dark 1 of 2

adjective

ˈdärk How to pronounce dark (audio)
Definition of darknext
1
as in dim
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
When rising star Bella is found dead at the open house of a coveted $50M mansion, everyone becomes a suspect in this dark comedy. —Peter White, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2025 The bow-sided square manages to harness its own racing legacy, Steve McQueen et al, while still appearing contemporary in its slightly menacing dark suit. —Thor Svaboe, Robb Report, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
Glow-in-the-dark plants bright enough to light up streets at night may sound like the stuff of science fiction or fantasy. —Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2025 The fee of $85 per person includes a nine-hole glow-in-the-dark golf experience, golf cart, food, chair massage and raffle. —Melinda Moore, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dark
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dark
  1. dim
  2. black
  3. bleak
  4. silent
  5. ambiguous
  6. ignorant
  7. evil
  8. shadows
Adjective
  • The bidirectional vehicle, with an identical front and rear, is also packed with sensors, including eight laser lidars; 10 radar units; 18 cameras; eight microphones (to hear emergency vehicles); and four thermal cameras to detect humans and animals in murky weather, dim lighting and fog.
    — Alan Ohnsman, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Inside the fortune cookie factory, the room was dim, fragrant with warm vanilla, and packed with antique machinery.
    — Maggie Downs, Oc Register, 9 Sep. 2025
Definition of dim
Adjective
  • Brunch might mean a humus bowl layered with lamb and pickled onion, or a shakshuka made with black lime tomato stew.
    — Rai Mincey, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • The ensemble featured a visible black underwire and corset boning at the bust and torso, while the sheer black fabric created an illusion of draping around her bust and the rest of her body.
    — Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
Definition of black
Adjective
  • Matters only got more bleak in the sixth, when Rushing fouled a ball off his right shin, smoking a ball right above where his guard ended and immediately going down in pain.
    — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
  • The one constant is the unhappy couple’s bleak surroundings.
    — Adam Solomons, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
Definition of bleak
Adjective
  • For some patients, other tools—like a coronary calcium scan, which can directly show whether there’s silent plaque in the arteries—may be more useful.
    — Sarah Garone, Health, 9 Sep. 2025
  • One silent element to the transfer portal that is seldom discussed, but important to the athletes, is those pesky classes.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Sep. 2025
Definition of silent
Adjective
  • Unlike Europe's clear regulatory framework under PSD2, American enterprises operate in a more ambiguous environment where implementation decisions must account for evolving compliance requirements and uncertain regulatory timelines.
    — Dave Glaser, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Dani's on-again, off-again relationship with playboy photographer Andre — who's also her sister's ex's nephew — has become more ambiguous than ever in recent weeks.
    — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Sep. 2025
Definition of ambiguous
Adjective
  • The league might be skeptical that the Clippers were merely ignorant of the Aspiration-Leonard relationship and question why the team didn’t undertake more diligence.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Conversations that would’ve otherwise been fun and intellectually stimulating will start to feel childish and ignorant.
    — Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Definition of ignorant
Adjective
  • When her mother leaves the room for a moment, she's accosted by a demonic entity that toys with her through funhouse-style reflections, creating this evil doppelganger of Judy.
    — Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Sep. 2025
  • The city has been taken over by a bunch of evil gangs and so the nerdy Scott Pilgrim and his pals, including Ramona Flowers and Lucas Lee come to the rescue.
    — Joshua Lamb, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Definition of evil
Noun
  • From Hertz's controversial AI vehicle scanners to hotel vape detectors, to airline pricing algorithms possibly jacking up fares, these systems operate in the shadows while your wallet takes a hit.
    — Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Two Pianos begins in the thick of night, saturated in the sepia shadows of the Vieux Lyon quarter’s historic architecture and cobblestone streets, and moves gradually toward a crisp autumn light.
    — Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025
Definition of shadows

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 12 Sep. 2025.

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