1
as in to frown
to take on a gloomy or forbidding look
his face slowly darkened as we told him the sad news
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of darken
As the season progresses, spores may darken to brown or black.
—
Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 2026
As the song ticks past the 20-minute mark, Goldie’s voice gets increasingly desperate and the music darkens.
—Ben Cardew, Pitchfork, 2 May 2026
Beyond the frequent urination Wayans experienced, type 2 diabetes symptoms can include increased thirst and hunger, weight loss, frequent infections, tingling in the hands and feet, darkened patches on the skin and dry skin.
—Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 1 May 2026
Residents fled as ash fell and smoke darkened the sky, many leaving with little notice as flames approached homes and neighborhoods.
—Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for darken
Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 2026
As the song ticks past the 20-minute mark, Goldie’s voice gets increasingly desperate and the music darkens.
—Ben Cardew, Pitchfork, 2 May 2026
Beyond the frequent urination Wayans experienced, type 2 diabetes symptoms can include increased thirst and hunger, weight loss, frequent infections, tingling in the hands and feet, darkened patches on the skin and dry skin.
—Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 1 May 2026
Residents fled as ash fell and smoke darkened the sky, many leaving with little notice as flames approached homes and neighborhoods.
—Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for darken
Recent Examples of Synonyms for darken
Verb
-
Levin has not denied paying for story tips, which is frowned upon by traditional journalism outlets.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Mother frowned, then perked up.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Between items that are dated and faded, here are a handful of outdoor decor pieces that designers say are always eyesores.—
Tessa Cooper,
The Spruce,
1 May 2026
-
Public conversation centers on politics, blame, and strategy, while children fade into the background.—
Letters to the Editor,
Hartford Courant,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
But what exactly happens to these baby stars next isn't always clear (literally) because they are buried deep within clouds of dark, dusty gas that obscure them.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
28 Apr. 2026
-
All of that mythology, though, can obscure the real story.—
Jimmy Jellinek,
SPIN,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That project was marred by a labor investigation, which BYD and its contractors settled late last year.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
1 May 2026
-
May Day rallies in Turkey are frequently marred by clashes with authorities.—
Sylvie Corbet,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Ramzan looked to her, pleading, but Sakeena’s eyes only stared into their reflection on the glass patio door.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 May 2026
-
Inning after inning, the staring contest continued.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
The park is open from daylight to dusk for visitors and 24/7 for campers.—
Isa Almeida,
Oklahoman,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Its hours are from dawn to dusk every day of the year.—
Cathy Kozlowicz,
jsonline.com,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Fox Nation President Lauren Petterson said in the press release that Season 1 showed just how easily lines can be blurred between fiction and reality.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
1 May 2026
-
In some commercial newsrooms, advertisers can use their influence to try to dictate news content or attempt to blur the lines between journalism and advertisements, although there are strict rules about this in some countries.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Waves of silicon, metal, and concrete would spoil views of Sardinia’s stunning beaches, rugged mountains, ancient pastures, and idyllic medieval villages, after all.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
7 May 2026
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Composers Matt Bowen and Christopher Lennertz won’t spoil what’s ahead but say their music will only get bigger.—
Fred Topel,
Deadline,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Darken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/darken. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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