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
The Browns, who haven’t won a regular-season game in Pittsburgh since 2003, dropped their 22nd consecutive regular-season road game to the black and gold. The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025 Both come with a black fur Labubu plush doll wearing a T-shirt with the number 10. Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2025
Verb
The variant, which dressed up the zippy roadster in a black-out colorway, also featured a power boost. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2025 The 16-inch OLED display represents a significant improvement over the previous IPS display, offering deeper blacks and more vibrant colors, particularly when paired with HDR technology. PC Magazine, 16 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for black
Recent Examples of Synonyms for black
Adjective
  • The motor court, which appears to float above the entrance to the subterranean garage, leads to the double-height foyer with ebony polished concrete floors and a floating staircase set against a wall of glass.
    Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Opinel announced the Néo6 in late July and offers it for a price of US$30 with a French walnut handle, $35 with an Italian olive handle, or $70 with an African ebony handle.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • For a darker experience in the City of Light, venture beneath Paris and explore its hundreds of miles of catacombs.
    Sophie Friedman, AFAR Media, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Patrick wore a classic dark grey suit with coordinating pants and jacket.
    Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • Smoke and blackness enfolded him.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Passengers experience a few minutes of weightlessness and get to see Earth against the blackness of space.
    Mike Wall, Space.com, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The decision follows internal divisions among EBU members, with broadcasters from Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia threatening to boycott the event if Israel competes.
    Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
  • While many of her peers boycott the Harry Potter universe, Keira Knightley appears to have avoided the fiery discourse around the franchise.
    Glenn Garner, Deadline, 12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Head to Amazon now to pick up the Athmile Wide-Leg Sweatpants while they’re marked down in black and gray.
    Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
  • The pop star went with dark gray pointy-toe heels boasting a lace-up silhouette that wrapped around her ankles.
    Kelsey Stewart, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Black.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/black. Accessed 24 Oct. 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!