1
as in dark
a time or place of little or no light
the raiding party snuck up under cover of darkness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ambiguity
the quality or state of having a veiled or uncertain meaning
the darkness of certain passages in the Book of Revelation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in night
the time from sunset to sunrise when there is no visible sunlight
let's wait for darkness before telling ghost stories
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 darkness
This forecast — which is subject to change — means the geomagnetic storm will coincide with the limited hours of darkness in all U.S. time zones.
—
Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Sunlight barely made it all the way down, and pigeons used the cool darkness for their mating rituals.
—Ottessa Moshfegh, New Yorker, 30 June 2025
If a panel fails to express those subtleties, all the audience sees is a flat mass of darkness.
—Bae Dongmi, Variety, 30 June 2025
There is darkness out there, and it’s got to go somewhere.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for darkness
Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Sunlight barely made it all the way down, and pigeons used the cool darkness for their mating rituals.
—Ottessa Moshfegh, New Yorker, 30 June 2025
If a panel fails to express those subtleties, all the audience sees is a flat mass of darkness.
—Bae Dongmi, Variety, 30 June 2025
There is darkness out there, and it’s got to go somewhere.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for darkness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for darkness
Noun
-
So the show and now the play is kind of like, maybe a dark PG-13, like an 80s PG-13.—
Eliana Dockterman,
Time,
1 July 2025
-
Though most body mists tend to be perfect for day wear, this could easily work after dark too.—
Celia Shatzman,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
Noun
-
Young people lack experience with the awkward pauses of conversation, the ambiguity of social cues, and the grit required to make up with a hurt or angry friend.—
Russell Shaw,
The Atlantic,
11 July 2025
-
Poker Face has played fast and loose with how Charlie’s gift actually works, an intentional ambiguity that only gets more complicated with the reveal that actually, yeah, Charlie can be lied to.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
10 July 2025
Noun
-
Anthony’s homer headlined a night of wild firsts for the Red Sox.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
8 July 2025
-
Chicago Sky star Angel Reese added to the chorus of complaints about WNBA officials following the team’s 80-75 loss to the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday night.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
8 July 2025
Noun
-
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
12 July 2025
-
There are both federal regulations and state regulations for cloud seeding and other forms of weather modification.—
Brandi D. Addison,
Austin American Statesman,
12 July 2025
Noun
-
Roving teams of federal immigration agents have cast a pall of fear across many of the region’s communities.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
3 July 2025
-
The churn has cast a pall of uncertainty over the vote.—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
27 June 2025
Noun
-
The cliffs loomed up terribly out of the blackness.—
Nicole Krauss,
The Atlantic,
6 July 2025
-
Four months’ worth of rain fell in just hours as water-laden thunderstorms stalled in place, giving rise to a wall of water that surged down the river in the blackness of night, limiting the number of people who could get the warnings and move to higher ground.—
Andrew Freedman,
CNN Money,
6 July 2025
Noun
-
The Roman Forum at dusk—that was the monumental setting for Dolce & Gabbana’s Alta Moda show tonight.—
Nicole Phelps,
Vogue,
15 July 2025
-
Today, almost all lighthouses are automated, meaning their lights run on timers, or in the case of Hillsboro, a photo cell that goes on at dusk and turns off at dawn.—
Lois K. Solomon,
Sun Sentinel,
14 July 2025
Noun
-
Flaunt this fun, floral style, or opt for their best-selling classic black.—
Meg Donohue,
Town & Country,
31 Jan. 2023
-
Take your pick from black to mocha to crisp, winter white.—
Taylor Jean Stephan,
Peoplemag,
31 Jan. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Darkness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/darkness. Accessed 20 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share