black 1 of 3

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4
5

black

2 of 3

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
Noun
For versatile pairs to match any outfit, snag the sleek white or black leather options. Genevieve Cepeda, Travel + Leisure, 25 July 2025 But the obvious calculation behind this move illustrated the desperation of so many anonymous black showbiz performers (such as those who were paid to promote the Kamala Harris campaign) who eagerly demonstrate an unshakeable loyalty to the post-FDR legacy of Democratic Party devotion. Armond White, National Review, 25 July 2025
Verb
Take your pick from black to mocha to crisp, winter white. Taylor Jean Stephan, Peoplemag, 31 Jan. 2023 Flaunt this fun, floral style, or opt for their best-selling classic black. Meg Donohue, Town & Country, 31 Jan. 2023 See All Example Sentences for black
Recent Examples of Synonyms for black
Adjective
  • In the study, meanwhile, dark-hued walls and ebony wood are accented by abstract, colorful art.
    Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 24 May 2025
  • Dating back roughly 1,500 years, the artifacts are carved from rare ebony wood that originated in India or Sri Lanka.
    Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 May 2025
Adjective
  • Sydney Sweeney’s new dark crime comedy Americana is new in theaters this weekend.
    Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
  • One look at his lone, dark face in his Brighton High class picture tells you.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • There are no glamorous furnishings — just a French window, its blackened panes suggesting the dark of night.
    Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2022
Noun
  • Passengers experience a few minutes of weightlessness and get to see Earth against the blackness of space.
    Mike Wall, Space.com, 31 July 2025
  • Then blackness, the last traces—the moment of medium desire, forgetfulness, being confused, weariness, and doubt.
    Amie Barrodale, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
Verb
  • At Cambridge Common, near Harvard University, the festival includes music, ice cream and art, and also calls for action, including mutual aid to help immigrant rights and learning about boycotting, a a news release said.
    Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 1 Aug. 2025
  • But Netanyahu is adamantly against Palestinian statehood and has boycotted a high-level U.N. conference that backed a two-state solution this week.
    Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 29 July 2025
Adjective
  • Her mother sat on the living-room couch in a gray sweatshirt, holding a pink Stanley cup.
    Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025
  • The shots came from a gray Dodge Charger just before 7 a.m. Sheriff’s officials said a caller told dispatchers they were fired upon after yelling at the Dodge’s driver for throwing trash onto the roadway.
    Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Elements of her can be found on Lioness in Zoe Saldaña’s Joe McNamara, a CIA operative trying to save the world from the swarthy — terrorists in Season One, Mexican cartels in Season Two — while raising two girls.
    Stephen Rodrick, Rolling Stone, 9 Mar. 2025
  • Jett Rink was a really malevolent varmint, and kind of swarthy and dark.
    Jeff Conway, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • For the Connecticut Sun and its fans, the past is prideful, the future is murky.
    Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 18 Aug. 2025
  • Though the love and dating waters can be murky, the future is nevertheless bright for us.
    Essence, Essence, 18 Aug. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Black.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/black. Accessed 25 Aug. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on black

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!