dark 1 of 2

adjective

ˈdärk How to pronounce dark (audio)
Definition of darknext
1
as in dim
being without light or without much light a dark alley that most people wisely avoided

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2
as in black
not having a light complexion he was tall, dark, and handsome

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3
as in bleak
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer her mind was filled with dark thoughts until the results of the medical test came back as negative

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4
as in silent
given to keeping one's activities hidden from public observation or knowledge the actor was always quite dark about his life before his arrival in Hollywood

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5
as in ambiguous
having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning the superhero was not daunted by the villain's dark threats

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6
as in ignorant
lacking in education or the knowledge gained from books is known as a dark period in European history when people lived in ignorance, fear, and want

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7
as in evil
not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable dark deeds that resulted in the Russian czar being known to history as Ivan the Terrible

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dark

2 of 2

noun

1
as in shadows
a time or place of little or no light I have a bad habit of running into tables in the dark

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2
as in night
the time from sunset to sunrise when there is no visible sunlight we were going to wait until dark to go trick-or-treating

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word dark different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of dark are ambiguous, cryptic, enigmatic, equivocal, obscure, and vague. While all these words mean "not clearly understandable," dark implies an imperfect or clouded revelation often with ominous or sinister suggestion.

muttered dark hints of revenge

In what contexts can ambiguous take the place of dark?

The meanings of ambiguous and dark largely overlap; however, ambiguous applies to language capable of more than one interpretation.

an ambiguous directive

When might cryptic be a better fit than dark?

While in some cases nearly identical to dark, cryptic implies a purposely concealed meaning.

cryptic hints of hidden treasure

When could enigmatic be used to replace dark?

The synonyms enigmatic and dark are sometimes interchangeable, but enigmatic stresses a puzzling, mystifying quality.

enigmatic occult writings

When can equivocal be used instead of dark?

The words equivocal and dark are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, equivocal applies to language left open to differing interpretations with the intention of deceiving or evading.

moral precepts with equivocal phrasing

When is obscure a more appropriate choice than dark?

In some situations, the words obscure and dark are roughly equivalent. However, obscure implies a hiding or veiling of meaning through some inadequacy of expression or withholding of full knowledge.

obscure poems

When would vague be a good substitute for dark?

While the synonyms vague and dark are close in meaning, vague implies a lack of clear formulation due to inadequate conception or consideration.

a vague sense of obligation

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 dark
Adjective
Some teens observed darker patterns. —Sonia Mankame, Mercury News, 30 Sep. 2025 Improved lighting techniques in the perpetually dark Raccoon City police station made for a vastly scarier and immersive atmosphere than the pixelated haze of before. —George Yang, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2025
Noun
In the half dark of High Wood, the owl hoots around my path. —Literary Hub, 19 Sep. 2025 In the Ramsey Barn, exclusive Halloween Legends and Lore merchandise, including glow-in-the-dark clothing and accessories, will be available. —Jim Riccioli, jsonline.com, 18 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dark
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dark
  1. dim
  2. black
  3. bleak
  4. silent
  5. ambiguous
  6. ignorant
  7. evil
  8. shadows
Adjective
  • The pavilion’s interior was reminiscent of a military entertainment bar, with a dim red light, two screens placed on opposite walls, and a couple of microphones standing in the middle.
    — Joanna Warsza, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Not even a month ago, Sasaki had a hurt shoulder and dim prospects for impacting the Dodgers in 2025.
    — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
Definition of dim
Adjective
  • Kevin O’Connell keeps it simple with black coffee or a straight espresso.
    — Dianna Russini, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2025
  • The episode cuts to black before it is revealed who or what is Paddy's target, but in real life, Arthur lived for decades longer, dying in 1915, per TIME.
    — Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2025
Definition of black
Adjective
  • These days, things are pretty bleak at the old mall, which has many vacancies, is startlingly empty of shoppers and appears slated for redevelopment.
    — Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Given that such advances are what fuel economic growth and well-being, the future prospects for our economy — and our country in general — become far more bleak.
    — Sheldon Jacobson, Twin Cities, 25 Sep. 2025
Definition of bleak
Adjective
  • The red agate worn by his mother reflects silent compassion, and the pearl accents on the Wulu pendant evoke the gentle passage of time.
    — Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Burnett was content to mine references from her own Depression-era youth; her famous maid character, the Charwoman, who became something of a show mascot, harked back to Chaplin’s Little Tramp, wearing a rumpled outfit and performing silent reveries.
    — Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
Definition of silent
Adjective
  • Life is mysterious and ambiguous, and so the film to us, is a beautiful representation of that type of experience that is just not captured very often in movies.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 1 Oct. 2025
  • For over a century, the United States has coercively maintained the base against the wishes of the Cuban government, an arrangement prompting political and legal debates surrounding the territory’s ambiguous sovereignty.
    — Miriam Pensack, The Dial, 30 Sep. 2025
Definition of ambiguous
Adjective
  • So what will our ignorant commissioner do with the information?
    — Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 28 Sep. 2025
  • But criticism quickly began to pile in on Chinese social media, where users denounced the advertising stunt as ignorant of the potential environmental impacts in a remote and pristine ecosystem.
    — Chris Lau, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2025
Definition of ignorant
Adjective
  • If the full release can continue to generate oddly pulse-pounding moments like the near-death rooftop fight with an evil-eyed Pikachu, then Z-A might be worth an extended stay in Lumiose.
    — Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 24 Sep. 2025
  • The kids discover their small town of Derry is home to an ancient, trans-dimensional evil that awakens every 27 years to prey mostly on children by taking the form of an evil clown named Pennywise.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2025
Definition of evil
Noun
  • If dogs are our servants, cats are our shadows.
    — Rebecca van Laer September 30, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2025
  • The shadows will make things difficult, as could the wind.
    — Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
Definition of shadows

Phrases Containing dark

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daringness
dark
dark age
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Cite this Entry

“Dark.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dark. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.

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