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
Relevance
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
Examples 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 darken
But there are some thresholds that investor profits should not darken.
—
Tj Hutchinson, The Denver Post, 15 Dec. 2024
The darkening climate for immigration in the U.S. and Europe is on her mind as well.
—August Brown, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024
If the spot has already darkened to a black stain, dip a toothbrush into a small amount of bleach and rub onto the stain.
—Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Dec. 2024
Eclipse totality is the phase in which the moon completely covers the sun, which causes the sky to darken.
—Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 10 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for darken 
Tj Hutchinson, The Denver Post, 15 Dec. 2024
The darkening climate for immigration in the U.S. and Europe is on her mind as well.
—August Brown, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024
If the spot has already darkened to a black stain, dip a toothbrush into a small amount of bleach and rub onto the stain.
—Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Dec. 2024
Eclipse totality is the phase in which the moon completely covers the sun, which causes the sky to darken.
—Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 10 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for darken
Recent Examples of Synonyms for darken
Verb
-
And cross my fingers while the postal clerk frowned and brought out her tape measure.Murr Brewster, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Dec. 2024
-
These are areas that keep experiencing small muscle contractions with expressions such as smiling, frowning and squinting practically every day for years and years.Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
This shift in mindset happens not through mandate but through results: When teams experience firsthand how AI amplifies their capabilities, their resistance naturally fades.Manmit Shrimali, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
-
Advertisement As the years pass, those banners hanging inside Pauley Pavilion fade like the memories of those championships.Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 19 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
But it has been largely obscured by the perpetual closeness of statewide elections here, and the fact that Democrats have been winning them more often than losing them.Craig Gilbert, Journal Sentinel, 23 Dec. 2024
-
This recent run has somewhat obscured the Penguins’ penchant for allowing the first goal.Rob Rossi, The Athletic, 22 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Trump spent considerable time this year campaigning in New York, even holding rallies in the Bronx and hosting events at iconic locations like Madison Square Garden, though some have been marred by controversial comments from his supporters.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
-
As Callas and Stefano were far past their vocal peak, the performances were marred by difficulties.Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 12 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
The solar eclipse had cities around the country staring at the sky in unison.Alexandra York, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
-
In another image, a woman stares at a ruddy sculptural bust with her own features that seems to be staring back.Jacqui Palumbo, CNN, 18 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
But the task has been performed so many times that dust and metal from the robot’s fingers have blackened the edges.James Somers, The New Yorker, 25 Nov. 2024
-
The fire burned for 64 days, blackening 429,603 acres in Butte and Tehama counties and destroying 709 homes and other structures.Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
Fleming discussed how luxury products are increasingly being treated as collectible items, similar to limited-edition art pieces, further blurring the lines between art and commercial fashion.Arthur Zaczkiewicz, WWD, 15 Dec. 2024
-
Meanwhile, on the ingredient front, peptides are making their way into shampoos, serums, and scalp sprays, blurring the lines between skin care and hair care.Sam Escobar, Allure, 13 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
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
-
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 31 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share