as in dark
being without light or without much light
wanting to surprise her, we waited in the darkened room for her to get home before calling out "happy birthday"
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in frowned
to take on a gloomy or forbidding look
his face slowly darkened as we told him the sad news
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in obscured
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 marred
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 darkened
Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
As scientists often find darkened teeth in ancient burials, other factors can contribute to a black appearance, notably the chewing of betel leaves.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 14 Feb. 2026
Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui posted a video to X over the weekend, showing a dazzling view of auroras spreading like a tall blanket over the darkened Earth below.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 15 Jan. 2026
Over the weekend, around 16,000 people paid their respects to the designer at his funeral chamber at the Armani Teatro designed by Tadao Ando, filled with white flowers and paper lanterns on the floor in a diagonal grid formation dimly lit up the darkened venue.
—Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2025
Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Mar. 2026
The room can quickly be darkened, however, with the flick of a curtain switch.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Mar. 2026
The atmosphere had darkened, as larger and larger percentages of students were suffering from depression and anxiety.
—CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
Walls appear charred and darkened, with visible structural damage.
—Jasmine Baehr , Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 19 Mar. 2026
But as the director returns to Capitol Hill Tuesday to appear before the House Committee on Appropriations, that outlook has darkened.
—Anil Oza, STAT, 17 Mar. 2026
Pushing harder would have darkened the story, but been slightly more believable.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 13 Mar. 2026
The city largely shut down as residents and tourists ran for cover and plumes of smoke from fires darkened the Pacific vista.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2026
More importantly, the romance of the blockade seems to have darkened the German public’s opinion of the coal industry, hastening the nation’s green transition.
—Robert Moor, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
In the darkened foyer, Ember contemplated this unassuming bit of paper, momentarily paralyzed by a mixture of dread and excitement stirred together, an overpowering sensation that oozed from the crown of her head, down the length of her body, then hardened, like a soft golden resin becoming solid.
—Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
As scientists often find darkened teeth in ancient burials, other factors can contribute to a black appearance, notably the chewing of betel leaves.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 14 Feb. 2026
Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui posted a video to X over the weekend, showing a dazzling view of auroras spreading like a tall blanket over the darkened Earth below.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 15 Jan. 2026
Over the weekend, around 16,000 people paid their respects to the designer at his funeral chamber at the Armani Teatro designed by Tadao Ando, filled with white flowers and paper lanterns on the floor in a diagonal grid formation dimly lit up the darkened venue.
—Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
Bake, tossing halfway through, until vegetables have shrunk and tomato paste is darkened and starting to stick to baking sheet, 25–30 minutes.
—Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Mar. 2026
The room can quickly be darkened, however, with the flick of a curtain switch.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Mar. 2026
The atmosphere had darkened, as larger and larger percentages of students were suffering from depression and anxiety.
—CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
Walls appear charred and darkened, with visible structural damage.
—Jasmine Baehr , Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 19 Mar. 2026
But as the director returns to Capitol Hill Tuesday to appear before the House Committee on Appropriations, that outlook has darkened.
—Anil Oza, STAT, 17 Mar. 2026
Pushing harder would have darkened the story, but been slightly more believable.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 13 Mar. 2026
The city largely shut down as residents and tourists ran for cover and plumes of smoke from fires darkened the Pacific vista.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2026
More importantly, the romance of the blockade seems to have darkened the German public’s opinion of the coal industry, hastening the nation’s green transition.
—Robert Moor, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for darkened
Adjective
-
On the last night that anybody else reportedly saw Nancy, that camera caught a glimpse of a person clad in dark clothes, wearing gloves and a black balaclava, unidentifiable, standing at the threshold.—
Vinson Cunningham,
New Yorker,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Not only did that article form the basis of the film, but Lumet actually took the note and cast Pacino in the role of that dark, thin fellow.—
Chris Jones,
New York Daily News,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Flipping hospices, while frowned upon, was legal and had few restrictions at the time.—
Jason Henry,
Daily News,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Design-wise, the iX3 is a departure from the large-grille era, which was widely frowned upon by enthusiasts.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The idea of a quick military solution has faded, but no serious political alternative has taken its place.—
Kazem Kazerounian,
Hartford Courant,
1 Apr. 2026
-
And the beetles faded from her days without her noticing.—
María Ospina,
The Dial,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Across 180 trials, the drone achieved a reported success rate ranging from 72 percent to 100 percent, demonstrating its ability to maneuver through cluttered and visually obscured environments.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Mar. 2026
-
These were large, monochromatic canvases featuring roses and other motifs obscured by large X’s.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Their reunion tour — which was somehow not marred by any type of familial controversy — sold out stadiums around the world and overexcelled in every conceivable way, setting the template for what the future of band reunions could look like and solidifying their legacy.—
Devon Ivie,
Vulture,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The country remains marred by fighting in its east.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
How Georgians will vote in the midterms this year is still murky.—
Caleb Groves,
AJC.com,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Now, two weeks since the first storm hit, the ocean water is still murky due to runoff that carries harmful pathogens and chemicals from sewage systems, animal feces and industrial facilities.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The blank walls stared at her, vacant pinholes made by previous tenants peering down like dark, shrunken pupils.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The caribou stopped eating and curiously stared at him.—
Frank Glaser,
Outdoor Life,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Grace, her white lace dress blackened with blood, is smoking a cigarette outside of an incinerated mansion that belongs to her in-laws, the Le Domas, who are all dead.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
-
The Israeli strikes on oil facilities sparked massive pillars of fire and blackened the skies above Tehran.—
NPR Staff,
NPR,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Darkened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/darkened. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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