1
2
as in dark
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer
the Friday of the stock market crash was indeed a black day for the country
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
4
as in darkened
being without light or without much light
on a black night such as this, the imagination runs wild
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in blackened
not clean
after mopping the floor, the water in the bucket was black
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in blackness
a time or place of little or no light
we had to find our way on back roads in the black of night
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 black
Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 9 Nov. 2025
This little black cloud would turn into a sandstorm that was blinding and threw the camera equipment around.
—Andrew Walsh, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Nov. 2025
Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Nov. 2025
The vampy glam—propeled by a makeup bag full of Dior Beauty—was in a bewitching rhythm with her sculptural black Dior gown and a black and silver buckle choker.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 2 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for black
Adjective
Accessories included Bahrain pearl drop earrings (worn by the late Queen and Princess Diana), a James Porter & Son Scottish silver thistle brooch, and a Mulberry Bayswater black suede clutch.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 9 Nov. 2025
This little black cloud would turn into a sandstorm that was blinding and threw the camera equipment around.
—Andrew Walsh, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Nov. 2025
Noun
Before frost turns the leaves of your basil black and mushy, 3- to 4-inch cuttings from healthy basil plants in early fall to keep the herb alive through winter.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Nov. 2025
The vampy glam—propeled by a makeup bag full of Dior Beauty—was in a bewitching rhythm with her sculptural black Dior gown and a black and silver buckle choker.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 2 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for black
Recent Examples of Synonyms for black
Adjective
-
The dry down brings in the ebony woods and soft leather notes, grounding all that fruit into something surprisingly sophisticated.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
30 Oct. 2025
-
This ebony offering is sold in a stylish glass bottle that belies its complex makeup.—
Joseph Hernandez,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The sky was cloudless and dark with the moon’s light now below the horizon.—
Sheeka Sanahori,
Outside,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Bordered by antique wood pillar columns, the custom wood and glass front doors lead into a rotunda foyer displaying dark polished hardwood floors that run throughout the interiors.—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
11 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
By becoming the light in a darkened world, everyone becomes a firefly that helps to illuminate the way back home to each other.—
Sergio Pereira,
Space.com,
29 Oct. 2025
-
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
-
One hour becomes two, two become three, my mind straining for answers in the blackness.—
Rowan Jacobsen,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Smoke and blackness enfolded him.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Liman, meanwhile, at first planned to boycott the SXSW premiere but changed his mind.—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
29 Oct. 2025
-
At the time, the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) organization urged Radiohead to boycott Israel over its conduct in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.—
Sophie Tanno,
CNN Money,
26 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Winter showcases the exfoliating bark, which peels away to reveal strips of gray, orange, and brick red.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
9 Nov. 2025
-
The coat is available in five colors, including dark brown, oat, caramel, gray, and black, as well as sizes ranging from XS to XL.—
Rachel Trujillo,
PEOPLE,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Velardo’s whereabouts were murky when he was charged in the two investigations in March, 2013.—
Karen Wang,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
-
But when the two leading figures behind the coup – RSF chief Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti, and Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, in charge of the SAF – began fighting each other, the foreign powers had to choose whom to support – and their involvement became even murkier.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Black.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/black. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share