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Definition of darknext
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as in black
not having a light complexion he was tall, dark, and handsome

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

dark

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noun

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
For example, plants with chartreuse or blue-green foliage are best highlighted when set in front of plants with darker foliage. Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 June 2026 The movie is an apex of film noir, filled with dark shadows, moody lighting and ominous swaying palm trees. Deputy Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026
Noun
Look low in the south after dark on Saturday, June 27, to see a near-full moon close to Antares in the constellation Scorpius. Jamie Carter, Space.com, 26 June 2026 The Istanbul Archaeological Museums, the Galata Tower, and the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts are each welcoming visitors after dark. Kaitlyn McInnis, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for dark
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dark
Adjective
  • The details remain murky, but the investment fund would be financed privately and not by US taxpayers, according to the administration.
    David Goldman, CNN Money, 26 June 2026
  • For a predator that relies on sight and fast reaction distances in shallow water, murky conditions can alter the entire hunting landscape and prey may become harder to detect.
    Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
Adjective
  • From here, there’s a plush formal living room, outfitted mostly in neutral tones, and a darker, moodier sitting room, where the black walls feature a studded pattern.
    Tori Latham, Robb Report, 30 June 2026
  • Nike first made a limited run of 100 all-white Air Force 1 with black Roc-A-Fella branding in 1999 as promotional items.
    Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 29 June 2026
Adjective
  • The goofy sketch comedies and homemade spoofs that once filled his channel gradually disappeared, replaced by melancholy short films and bleak monologues.
    Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 27 June 2026
  • Cher’s court documents paint a bleak picture of how Allman, 49, allegedly blows through his $120,000 annual trust distributions.
    Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 25 June 2026
Adjective
  • That silent fear comes back as an earnout, where you only get paid if that client stays.
    Lien De Pau, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026
  • Beyond the music, there are festive parades, workshops for making puppets or gardening, a 5K run, yoga, silent discos and much more.
    Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 June 2026
Adjective
  • Rubio met with Gulf Arab leaders in Bahrain on Thursday in an effort to assuage their concerns over certain terms of the MOU, including the ambiguous language around the management of the Strait of Hormuz.
    Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 26 June 2026
  • With one, everything the best-performing agent learns is written into a layer for the next—how to handle a difficult customer, which exception patterns resolved cleanly, what an ambiguous edge case meant for the business.
    Sarah Elk, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026
Adjective
  • Their earliest performances could be fun and irreverent, too, but Boy George says they were also marred by ignorant, homophobic heckling.
    Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 14 June 2026
  • And using both words does not reveal that a person is ignorant but rather cosmopolitan.
    Kirk Bowman, The Conversation, 4 June 2026
Adjective
  • With some assistance from the bounty hunter Lobo (Jason Momoa), Kara and Ruthye track down Krem and his evil Brigands.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 27 June 2026
  • Load was a Number One seller in 1996, and its comelier evil twin, ReLoad, repeated the feat a year and a half later.
    Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 27 June 2026
Noun
  • However long and tangled her rap sheet, Sugar sees her illuminatory potential through the grime and shadows of an unforgiving film-noir cityscape.
    Andy Andersen, Vulture, 27 June 2026
  • The 2027 total solar eclipse is part of a family of moon shadows called Saros 136, which produces very long-duration totalities.
    Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Dark.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dark. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.

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