duskier; duskiest
1
: somewhat dark in color
specifically : having dark skin
2
: marked by slight or deficient light : shadowy
duskily adverb
duskiness noun

Examples of dusky in a Sentence

in the dusky depths of the dungeon
Recent Examples on the Web Painted in dusky hues of ochre, burnt umber, olive green and terracotta, the interiors change throughout the day as sunlight streams through the huge windows. Rachel Howard, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Feb. 2024 With a dull gray to brown body, anglers often have difficulty distinguishing between a dusky and a sandbar shark. Joe Cermele, Field & Stream, 26 July 2023 Giant fish swim by and check him out—dusky sharks, hammerheads, marlins, silky sharks and swordfish, which have whacked at least one of his fellow divers. Joe Spring, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Dec. 2023 The plant pots, made of ceramic earthenware, are available in colors that reflect current interior trends, including dusky pink, pale blue, bright marigold, and bold navy. Sharon Greenthal, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Jan. 2024 The refreshed interiors are swoon-worthy, all pastel pinks and dusky greens with art deco detailing. Tom Howells, Vogue, 27 Dec. 2023 The researchers instilled various doses of the dusky air-pollution liquid in some of the mice’s lungs. Siddhartha Mukherjee, The New Yorker, 11 Dec. 2023 With every flick of movement, the skin peeking out from underneath the black of his sweater glimmers in the dusky light of the dance floor. Vulture, 17 Oct. 2023 Purpurea has dusky purple foliage and complements any reddish color in an arrangement. Karen Hugg, Washington Post, 19 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dusky.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1542, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dusky was in 1542

Dictionary Entries Near dusky

Cite this Entry

“Dusky.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dusky. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

dusky

adjective
duskier; duskiest
1
: somewhat dark in color
2
: somewhat dark : dim
a dusky room
duskily adverb
duskiness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on dusky

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