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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of darken
Once the sky has sufficiently darkened, however, Mars will be relatively easy to see.
—
Joe Rao, Space.com, 13 June 2025
But the gray clouds darkening the skies ahead have accumulated not because of what the Padres are doing or not doing on offense.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 June 2025
The dust then darkens the leading hemispheres of the two outer moons, which bear the brunt of the debris and shield the inner moons, Ariel and Umbriel, from going through the same thing.
—Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 11 June 2025
The situation seemed to darken as more law enforcement agents and officers moved into the area, agitating some protesters.
—Sarah Dean, NBC news, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for darken
Joe Rao, Space.com, 13 June 2025
But the gray clouds darkening the skies ahead have accumulated not because of what the Padres are doing or not doing on offense.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 June 2025
The dust then darkens the leading hemispheres of the two outer moons, which bear the brunt of the debris and shield the inner moons, Ariel and Umbriel, from going through the same thing.
—Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 11 June 2025
The situation seemed to darken as more law enforcement agents and officers moved into the area, agitating some protesters.
—Sarah Dean, NBC news, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for darken
Recent Examples of Synonyms for darken
Verb
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It’s typically frowned upon to rely on chalk in the postseason.—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
12 June 2025
-
While that behavior is frowned upon in the major leagues, the catcher enables it by telegraphing the pitches too early.—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
9 June 2025
Verb
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Despite the metaverse hype having faded, Infinite Reality shows that investor belief in immersive environments remains, especially when linked to creator infrastructure or enterprise applications. 4.—
Elena Volotovskaya,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
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When McBride isn’t answering the director’s questions and when Joynt is able to fade into the background, the documentary, which asserts little visual style other than fly-on-the-wall presence, is able to witness moments that showcase the unguarded McBride.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
9 June 2025
Verb
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All while staring directly into the eye of the stranger sitting opposite. Without depth perception, with facial features and body outlines obscured, with the one available eye fixed straight ahead, the interior of the space appears to swirl and pulse.—
Chadd Scott,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
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The strongest tool available to obscure your trail online is the Tor Browser.—
Andy Greenberg,
Wired News,
16 June 2025
Verb
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Graffiti marred the exterior of City Hall, an Art Deco landmark built in 1928.—
Grace Toohey,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2025
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Signed in 2023 from Fenerbahce in his homeland, Guler’s debut season was marred by injuries.—
Mario Cortegana,
New York Times,
8 June 2025
Verb
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Screenshots from a June 10 TikTok video of a black Lab puppy staring at his owner while at the store.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 June 2025
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In the fifth inning, the Royals were staring at another blowout loss.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
12 June 2025
Verb
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Nearly five years after a massive fire burned California’s oldest state park, Big Basin Redwoods, blackening groves of famous ancient redwoods and destroying all the campgrounds, the visitor center and other facilities, state parks officials have finalized a plan to rebuild.—
Paul Rogers,
Mercury News,
19 June 2025
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Lightning had struck a single ponderosa pine, blackening its trunk.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 June 2025
Verb
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Part of that brand was to label it a ‘spirit,’ blurring the psychological lines between an alcoholic beverage and a THC one.—
Andrew Watman,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
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At a sunny oceanfront venue, the line between a vacation-ready, potentially too-casual sundress and appropriate wedding-guest attire blurs.—
Catie Pusateri,
Glamour,
17 June 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
Cite this Entry
“Darken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/darken. Accessed 24 Jun. 2025.
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