dark 1 of 2

adjective

ˈdärk How to pronounce dark (audio)
Definition of darknext
1
as in dim
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
This isn't the first time Bella's character has taken a dark turn. —Fernando Quiles Jr, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Nov. 2025 Leaving The Stain For Later Red wine contains dark pigments and tannins that act together to make wine stains particularly potent. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 11 Nov. 2025
Noun
Slowly, gaining confidence at shooting and interviewing, Pencic accumulated remarkable material from all kinds of places, shooting for four months, always, somehow, after dark. —Will Tizard, Variety, 27 Oct. 2025 Head to Grote Markt, where the Renaissance Town Hall sparkles with lights and the historic homes that fringe the square are illuminated after dark. —Sophie Friedman, AFAR Media, 27 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dark
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dark
  1. dim
  2. black
  3. bleak
  4. silent
  5. ambiguous
  6. ignorant
  7. evil
  8. shadows
Adjective
  • The future of the 25-acre park in Alpine remains dim after a San Diego County judge ruled in the summer that county planners failed to abide by California’s environmental law in developing the project.
    — Hannah Elsmore, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Nov. 2025
  • Still, as more time passes, others feel that the fate of finding the historic jewels looks dim.
    — Dave Smith, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2025
Definition of dim
Adjective
  • Geirþrúður has wrapped a large towel around herself but her shoulders are still bare and her December-dark hair is wet and wild and possibly blacker than it’s ever been.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Nov. 2025
  • From the balcony, Kate appeared still, serene and composed in an all-black ensemble, accessorized with a black hat, scarf, her RAF brooch and the traditional red poppy.
    — Erin Hill, PEOPLE, 9 Nov. 2025
Definition of black
Adjective
  • When everything looks bleak, a woman holds it up victoriously.
    — Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 6 Nov. 2025
  • New York — US stocks closed lower Thursday as concerns mounted about expensive tech stocks, and a risk-off sentiment spread through markets after new data showed a bleak outlook for the job market.
    — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
Definition of bleak
Adjective
  • But New Delhi remained notably silent on the subject of domestic repression.
    — MUHIB RAHMAN, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2025
  • The room was silent, save for the heavy, mechanized breathing of the huge man in black armor standing to one side of the throne dais.
    — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 10 Nov. 2025
Definition of silent
Adjective
  • With stunning celerity, possibility becomes probability and then certainty, as readers reject the quiet, circuitous, and unglamorous narratives of prudential compromise, ambiguous diplomacy, or incremental progress.
    — Elizabeth D. Samet, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
  • Ibsen’s choice to use Hedda’s maiden name for the play speaks to her resistance to the strong presence of men in her life; DaCosta’s choice to remove the surname entirely speaks to a rejection of patriarchal identity, replaced with an ambiguous void that Hedda herself doesn’t know how to fill.
    — Rory Doherty, Time, 29 Oct. 2025
Definition of ambiguous
Adjective
  • In fact, the term itself was an epithet throughout the founding era, a way to describe ignorant and easily deceived popular majorities, perpetually vulnerable to demagogues.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
  • International students are close to entirely ignorant of Canadian history and politics.
    — Dónal Gill, The Dial, 28 Oct. 2025
Definition of ignorant
Adjective
  • Like terrestrial monsters, evil aliens are often stand-ins for real-life anxieties.
    — Alan Bradley, Space.com, 8 Nov. 2025
  • Thia was sent to this dread planet by the Weyland-Yutani corporation, the famously evil entity that haunts most of the Alien movies.
    — Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 4 Nov. 2025
Definition of evil
Noun
  • Not as shadows lurking in code prompt chains.
    — Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 11 Nov. 2025
  • Adams drove the route through the warehouse-y section of Albuquerque that had been chosen for Scene 46, and saw that the way the shadows hit the car would inevitably create a shadow of the camera and of any lighting equipment on Seehorn’s face.
    — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 11 Nov. 2025
Definition of shadows

Phrases Containing dark

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daringness
dark
dark age
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Cite this Entry

“Dark.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dark. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.

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