1
as in to frown
to take on a gloomy or forbidding look
his face slowly darkened as we told him the sad news
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in to obscure
to make dark, dim, or indistinct
years of accumulated grime have darkened the painting until it can barely be seen
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to mar
to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable
the scandal darkened his otherwise sterling reputation
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of darken
The point is to strip away contaminants (like pesticides or trace metals) as well as other compounds that make the oil prone to going rancid, give it a harsh taste or smell, or darken its color.
—
Erica Sloan, SELF, 13 Jan. 2025
Silver can also stimulate the production of the pigment melanin, causing darkening.
—Ars Technica, 10 Jan. 2025
The details vary depending on your location, but out in the western U.S. and Canada the moon will already be among the Pleiades stars soon after the sun has set and the twilight sky darkens.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 9 Jan. 2025
Within minutes medics had pronounced the boy dead at the scene and noticed abrasions and darkening on his face.
—Noe Padilla, USA TODAY, 31 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for darken 
Erica Sloan, SELF, 13 Jan. 2025
Silver can also stimulate the production of the pigment melanin, causing darkening.
—Ars Technica, 10 Jan. 2025
The details vary depending on your location, but out in the western U.S. and Canada the moon will already be among the Pleiades stars soon after the sun has set and the twilight sky darkens.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 9 Jan. 2025
Within minutes medics had pronounced the boy dead at the scene and noticed abrasions and darkening on his face.
—Noe Padilla, USA TODAY, 31 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for darken
Recent Examples of Synonyms for darken
Verb
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These answers all describe an action that might be frowned upon.—
Yaakov Katz,
Newsweek,
17 Jan. 2025
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Some may frown upon these metaphors, but the reality is that business is, to some extent, a dog-eat-dog competition.—
Zain Jaffer,
Forbes,
13 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Sunlight had begun to fade, casting a shadow on the space.—
Colleen Shalby,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Jan. 2025
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Saturn, nearby, will become visible to the naked eye as dusk fades to darkness and remain observable for around three-and-a-half hours past sunset, at which point the pair will sink below the horizon and out of view.—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
17 Jan. 2025
Verb
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This lava blankets the valley floor, walls, and much of the surrounding plains, obscuring older geological features and complicating efforts to date and understand the processes that shaped this enigmatic Martian landscape.—
Victoria Corless,
Space.com,
24 Jan. 2025
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After its investigators were attacked by protesters later on Saturday, the anti-corruption agency asked media companies to obscure the faces of its members attending the hearing.—
Kim Tong-Hyung,
The Christian Science Monitor,
19 Jan. 2025
Verb
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However, 2017 first-round pick Malik Hooker’s time in Indianapolis was marred by a season-ending knee and Achilles injuries leading the team to decline the safety’s fifth-year option.—
James Boyd,
The Athletic,
16 Jan. 2025
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Employers stuck the landing in 2024, finishing the year with a bounce of hiring after a summer slowdown and an autumn marred by disruption.—
Lydia DePillis,
New York Times,
10 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The clip ended with Dwayne staring at the camera frowning.—
Escher Walcott,
People.com,
19 Jan. 2025
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For better or worse, Summers is staring at a largely blank slate.—
Sean Keeler,
The Denver Post,
18 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The charred footprint of the Eaton fire, which blackened more than 14,000 acres, is the most worrisome.—
Alene Tchekmedyian,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2025
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In one corner, fires from ancient rituals had left the limestone ceiling blackened by soot.—
Gina DeCaprio Vercesi,
Travel + Leisure,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
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As the lines between beauty and wellness continue to blur, neurocosmetics offer brands an opportunity to explore beauty's emotional and sensory dimensions while aligning with holistic self-care trends. 4.—
Wayne Liu,
Forbes,
23 Jan. 2025
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As traditional media continues to implode and the lines between entertainment, social media, and politics blur, the creators at Sunday’s event are poised to gain even more power.—
Taylor Lorenz,
Rolling Stone,
20 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Dodge won't spoil the surprise by confirming if the last one will be based on the Charger or the Challenger (or maybe both), but the evidence suggests the latter is more likely.—
Jack Fitzgerald,
Car and Driver,
13 Feb. 2023
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Farmers’ broiler chickens suffocate, and dairy products spoil.—
Monica Mark,
The Christian Science Monitor,
10 Feb. 2023
Thesaurus Entries Near darken
Cite this Entry
“Darken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/darken. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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