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
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.
The light stays sharp well into the evening, the sky a dusky purply blue that doesn’t fade so much as deepen. Rooksana Hossenally, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025 Antarctica in mid-winter is bathed in a dusky half-light or shrouded in darkness, with the sun's orbit ensuring the warming rays no longer reach the icy landmass. Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 June 2025 Orcas share the meat of a dusky dolphin among the pod. Mindy Weisberger, CNN, 26 Sep. 2024 If Dylan was the dusky preacher Friday, Nelson was the campfire light. Brady Gerber, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for dusky

Word History

First Known Use

1542, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dusky was in 1542

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dusky.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dusky. Accessed 29 Jun. 2025.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!