black 1 of 3

Definition of blacknext
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 swarthy
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
Adjective
Think a flash of crimson red underneath a black winter coat, or a subtle pastel yellow peeking out from a grey cashmere. Minty Mellon, Vogue, 16 Feb. 2026 The look included a black camisole-style top with lace trim, a structured tier combining fabric with a leather-like ruffled panel and wide-leg trousers finished with ankle ties, complementing the cord construction of her shoes. Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 16 Feb. 2026
Noun
Matte black is the new black of 2026. Meg Walters, InStyle, 11 Feb. 2026 There are so many beautiful, colorful clothes in the stores, yet women are often dressed in grays, blacks, whites and sneakers, not to mention yoga pants, pants with holes in them and unbecoming tops. Letters To The Editor, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for black
Recent Examples of Synonyms for black
Adjective
  • The high-end products are in sync with the barber shop’s old-school aesthetic, combining columns, capitals and green marble with opulent mosaic flooring, black ebony walls, coffered ceilings and metopes crafted by Venetian glassmakers.
    Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Jenner's ebony mane was done in tousled waves.
    Hannah Malach, InStyle, 6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • At the center of the space will be a central bar wrapped in wood paneling and leather accents, topped with dark stone, according to the release.
    Noelle Alviz-Gransee February 17, Kansas City Star, 17 Feb. 2026
  • The shoes accompanied a silky black midi skirt, a simple gray sweater, a thick dark turquoise belt and a long furry gray coat worn off her shoulders.
    Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui posted a video to X over the weekend, showing a dazzling view of auroras spreading like a tall blanket over the darkened Earth below.
    Josh Dinner, Space.com, 15 Jan. 2026
  • Over the weekend, around 16,000 people paid their respects to the designer at his funeral chamber at the Armani Teatro designed by Tadao Ando, filled with white flowers and paper lanterns on the floor in a diagonal grid formation dimly lit up the darkened venue.
    Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2025
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 film's opening two minutes play out in complete blackness, a picture-less overture showcasing legendary James Bond composer John Barry's majestic score.
    Richard Edwards, Space.com, 8 Feb. 2026
  • With the streets in pitch blackness, some neighbors said their cameras don't capture much more than the immediate surroundings of their home.
    Clara Migoya, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Democratic governors plan to boycott a White House dinner after two of their colleagues were excluded.
    Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Many Discord users have already responded to the incoming change with calls to boycott the app, with some choosing to leave the platform as well as cancel their Nitro subscriptions.
    Emma Roth, The Verge, 10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • For those gray, dreary Berlin February days, the Berlinale this year is offering a colorful fever dream of a cinematic antidote courtesy of Pakistan.
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Nearly every color is on sale, including this neutral charcoal gray hue that’s just $25.
    Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • But in the murky intermediate regime, the full quantum complexity of each electron plays a role, and the problem is classically intractable.
    IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 4 Feb. 2026
  • There were a lot of murky secrets in the Victorian world.
    Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 4 Feb. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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!