black 1 of 3

Definition of blacknext
1
as in ebony
having the color of soot or coal we adopted a little black kitten

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
as in swarthy
not having a light complexion a black Irishman, Tyrone Power had the classic looks of a Hollywood leading man

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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black

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noun

black

3 of 3

verb

chiefly British

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 black
Adjective
Queen Camilla returned to her bespoke Eliot Zed pumps in soft black suede with a black leather toe cap, after wearing the same pair just days earlier at the Badminton Horse Trials. Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 11 May 2026 Olivia opted for a black halter gown with a sheer bodice which connected to a peplum skirt with a small train. Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 11 May 2026
Noun
Many of her most famous works were produced during the ’60s, when Lovelace O’Neal walked into a paint store in New York and purchased five bags of lamp black, a dark powder. Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 13 May 2026 My team painted the ceiling black; along with the wallpaper and inky bedding, black was my 60 percent. Eleni N. Gage, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for black
Recent Examples of Synonyms for black
Adjective
  • The interiors feature blue calcite marble in the bathrooms, dark ebony wood and leather accents in the main area, and in-room amenities including Bang & Olufsen speakers and Byredo toiletries.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 May 2026
  • Told with exacting restraint yet as layered as the lacquer on an ebony Biedermeier console, this forms a loose triptych with Pawlikowski’s last two features, Ida and Cold War, both of which were set at least partly behind the Iron Curtain.
    Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
Adjective
  • The rooms In darker hues with lots of hardwood and colorful fabrics, the rooms here don’t fall into your standard contemporary look.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 May 2026
  • Forty-four of the 89 counties along Route 66 were sundown towns, communities where it was encouraged for Black people to leave before dark — or else.
    Jasmine Desiree, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
Adjective
  • In the darkened foyer, Ember contemplated this unassuming bit of paper, momentarily paralyzed by a mixture of dread and excitement stirred together, an overpowering sensation that oozed from the crown of her head, down the length of her body, then hardened, like a soft golden resin becoming solid.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
  • As scientists often find darkened teeth in ancient burials, other factors can contribute to a black appearance, notably the chewing of betel leaves.
    Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • The land, unfenced, abuts a bald blackened hillside that must be public land.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025
  • In its time open, fueled by fans of its blackened mahi and buttery lobster rolls, owner Mike Smith has expanded his footprint, moving into a larger stall in the popular food hall — which has allowed for a menu expansion, as well.
    Amy Drew Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 6 Dec. 2022
Noun
  • The aurora australis can be seen below as a stream of green and pink light hovering over our planet against the blackness of space.
    Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 15 May 2026
  • The activity is not unlike the way US and Soviet submarines tailed one another in the Cold War, but instead of running silent and running deep, highly reflective satellites easily stand out against the inky blackness of space.
    Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 15 May 2026
Verb
  • Artists like Massive Attack, Kneecap, and Brian Eno have all signed an open letter to boycott the event.
    Charlie Harding, Vulture, 15 May 2026
  • But the broadcasting union declined to kick Israel out, spurring five countries — Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Iceland — to boycott.
    ABC News, ABC News, 13 May 2026
Adjective
  • Rocky, meanwhile, wore a camel trench over a gray tee, along with black jeans and combat boots.
    Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 17 May 2026
  • Arguably, the colors are the best part—stand out from the crowds on the trail with this beige-and-pink combo or this cool gray-and-teal pair.
    Francesca Krempa, Travel + Leisure, 16 May 2026
Adjective
  • But first, the imager will scout the asteroid’s immediate neighborhood to check for any moonlets that could pose hazards to the spacecraft or offer clues to the space rock’s murky past.
    Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 14 May 2026
  • Details of their final days remain murky.
    Kerry Breen, CBS News, 14 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Black.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/black. Accessed 18 May. 2026.

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