Entry Word: darken

Function: verb

Meaning: 1 to take on a gloomy or forbidding look <his face slowly darkened as we told him the sad news>

Synonyms gloom, glower, lower (also lour)

Related Words frown, scowl; glare, stare; brood, mope, pout, sulk; anger, fume, rage, steam; intimidate, menace, threaten

Antonyms brighten, cheer (up), lighten, perk (up)

2 to make dark, dim, or indistinct <years of accumulated grime have darkened the painting until it can barely be seen> — see cloud 1