dark 1 of 2

adjective

ˈdärk How to pronounce dark (audio)
Definition of darknext
1
as in darkened
being without light or without much light a dark alley that most people wisely avoided

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2
as in black
not having a light complexion he was tall, dark, and handsome

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3
as in bleak
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer her mind was filled with dark thoughts until the results of the medical test came back as negative

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4
as in silent
given to keeping one's activities hidden from public observation or knowledge the actor was always quite dark about his life before his arrival in Hollywood

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5
as in ambiguous
having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning the superhero was not daunted by the villain's dark threats

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6
as in ignorant
lacking in education or the knowledge gained from books is known as a dark period in European history when people lived in ignorance, fear, and want

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7
as in evil
not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable dark deeds that resulted in the Russian czar being known to history as Ivan the Terrible

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dark

2 of 2

noun

1
as in shadows
a time or place of little or no light I have a bad habit of running into tables in the dark

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2
as in night
the time from sunset to sunrise when there is no visible sunlight we were going to wait until dark to go trick-or-treating

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word dark different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of dark are ambiguous, cryptic, enigmatic, equivocal, obscure, and vague. While all these words mean "not clearly understandable," dark implies an imperfect or clouded revelation often with ominous or sinister suggestion.

muttered dark hints of revenge

In what contexts can ambiguous take the place of dark?

The meanings of ambiguous and dark largely overlap; however, ambiguous applies to language capable of more than one interpretation.

an ambiguous directive

When might cryptic be a better fit than dark?

While in some cases nearly identical to dark, cryptic implies a purposely concealed meaning.

cryptic hints of hidden treasure

When could enigmatic be used to replace dark?

The synonyms enigmatic and dark are sometimes interchangeable, but enigmatic stresses a puzzling, mystifying quality.

enigmatic occult writings

When can equivocal be used instead of dark?

The words equivocal and dark are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, equivocal applies to language left open to differing interpretations with the intention of deceiving or evading.

moral precepts with equivocal phrasing

When is obscure a more appropriate choice than dark?

In some situations, the words obscure and dark are roughly equivalent. However, obscure implies a hiding or veiling of meaning through some inadequacy of expression or withholding of full knowledge.

obscure poems

When would vague be a good substitute for dark?

While the synonyms vague and dark are close in meaning, vague implies a lack of clear formulation due to inadequate conception or consideration.

a vague sense of obligation

Example 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 dark
Adjective
The San Diego Jazz Fest & Swing Extravaganza went dark in 2024, ending — at least for now — its 43-year run. —George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Feb. 2025 In a joint statement on Jan. 19, when TikTok temporarily went dark and Amazon, Apple, Google and Microsoft stopped hosting the app, the senators encouraged other companies to do the same. —Ahtra Elnashar, Baltimore Sun, 14 Feb. 2025
Noun
How To Find Mars In The Night Sky Go outside after dark and look to the east. —Jamie Carter, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025 But batteries that bank power for after dark have changed the equation. —Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dark
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dark
  1. black
  2. bleak
  3. silent
  4. ambiguous
  5. ignorant
  6. evil
  7. night
  8. murky
Adjective
  • The carousel of photos shows the superstar wearing an oversized, double-breasted brown suit, worn with a darker brown shirt, camel-color platforms, a black clutch, and ombré sunglasses.
    — Marci Robin, Allure, 19 Feb. 2025
  • California Hit With Another Earthquake California has 42 official state symbols after Governor Gavin Newsom signed three bills to create new symbols in 2024, including the Dungeness crab as the state crustacean, the banana slug as the state slug, and the black abalone as the state seashell.
    — Matt Robison, Newsweek, 19 Feb. 2025
Definition of black
Adjective
  • The picture looks bleak in the U.S. and in France the company is entering receivership.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 24 Feb. 2025
  • The tiny graves at one end of the orphanage compound are a bleak reminder of what a future without USAID might look like for the children.
    — Nicholas Komu, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2025
Definition of bleak
Adjective
  • Mello was succeeded by Pete Garcia, who ran FIU athletics from 2006 to 2021, and, during that time, the Hall of Fame remained silent.
    — Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2025
  • The film investigates the silent epidemic of CRSV in Ukraine, a subject long shrouded in stigma.
    — Lise Pedersen, Variety, 24 Feb. 2025
Definition of silent
Adjective
  • Issues like ambiguous requirements cause misalignment and rework, while inadequate testing environments delay validation and debugging.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025
  • So this is in a very ambiguous state in an ambiguous country, and her mother’s illness is ambiguous.
    — Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Feb. 2025
Definition of ambiguous
Adjective
  • Put simply, many Americans are woefully ignorant about the structure and features of their government.
    — Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 14 Feb. 2025
  • Reading it, one is reminded, once again, that Trump is a politician who is cunning but semiliterate and ignorant.
    — Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2025
Definition of ignorant
Adjective
  • That being said, there are numerous dire consequences due to AI performing potentially evil acts or being used by evildoers.
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025
  • My Little Puny sparkles in a double role as the prince and the fairy godmother, but Tabitha is a scene-stealing vamping diva as the evil stepmother.
    — Barry Levitt, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2025
Definition of evil
Noun
  • At the Calumet City VFW Tuesday night, Patton thanked the packed bar of supporters for their aid in his efforts to unseat Jones.
    — Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 2025
  • The Minnesota Timberwolves completed a fearless comeback win for the ages Monday night.
    — Jon Krawczynski, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025
Definition of night
Adjective
  • The Depths are a murky environment with unique gameplay mechanics tied to darkness and light, so players better not skimp on lanterns and torches.
    — Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 20 Feb. 2025
  • Culture Ministry officials are also debating whether some statues with murky provenance could be fakes.
    — Mike Ives, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025
Definition of murky

Phrases Containing dark

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Cite this Entry

“Dark.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dark. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.

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