black 1 of 3

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as in ebony
having the color of soot or coal we adopted a little black kitten

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3
as in brunette
not having a light complexion a black Irishman, Tyrone Power had the classic looks of a Hollywood leading man

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black

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noun

black

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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
Travis Decker description Police described Travis Decker as a white man with black hair and brown eyes, standing 5'8'', and weighing 190 pounds. Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 7 June 2025 Hudson’s Newport Beach TV Festival look follows a recent trend of celebrities putting their own respective spin on the little black dress. Julia Teti, Footwear News, 6 June 2025
Verb
Take your pick from black to mocha to crisp, winter white. Taylor Jean Stephan, Peoplemag, 31 Jan. 2023 Flaunt this fun, floral style, or opt for their best-selling classic black. Meg Donohue, Town & Country, 31 Jan. 2023 See All Example Sentences for black
Recent Examples of Synonyms for black
Adjective
  • In the study, meanwhile, dark-hued walls and ebony wood are accented by abstract, colorful art.
    Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 24 May 2025
  • Dating back roughly 1,500 years, the artifacts are carved from rare ebony wood that originated in India or Sri Lanka.
    Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 May 2025
Adjective
  • Prioritize sleep quality: Creating a consistent bedtime routine and keeping your bedroom cool and dark may help improve sleep.
    Stella Bard, Health, 27 June 2025
  • Executive Chef Graham House and Chef de Cuisine Graham House of Luminosa in Asheville, NC, recommend using a whole roast chicken, both dark and white meat, but placing half of it in the food processor before hand shredding the remaining bits for texture.
    Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • There are no glamorous furnishings — just a French window, its blackened panes suggesting the dark of night.
    Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2022
Noun
  • Its flights last 10 to 12 minutes from liftoff to capsule touchdown; passengers get to experience a few minutes of weightlessness and see Earth against the blackness of space.
    Mike Wall, Space.com, 20 June 2025
  • The scene of Stan’s eruption mirrors the film’s opening—when, out of blackness, a nothingness, the face of a boy emerges, his eyes sunk in fear.
    Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 14 June 2025
Verb
  • As many Harry Potter fans boycott the new HBO series over J.K. Rowling‘s aggressive anti-transgender stance, the author is getting her loyalists hyped for the show.
    Glenn Garner, Deadline, 21 June 2025
  • Cornyn and Schmitt rolled out their accusations against the former president and his inner circle to a mostly empty room after most Democrats on the panel boycotted the hearing.
    Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 18 June 2025
Adjective
  • Finish with artful desserts by Pastry Chef Salvatore Martone, including a strawberry chantilly rose with pistachio sable and a silky white chocolate sabayon with salted caramel.
    Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Disney World: Both Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon will be open this summer Cast members monitored Tucker’s actions with other savanna residents such as zebras, sable antelopes and springbok.
    Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The watch is complemented with a black and gray bi-material rubber and gray textile strap with the Luna Rossa stripe as well as a second black rubber strap.
    Anthony DeMarco, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • Its neutral gray pattern lends itself to both modern and classic interiors, and the synthetic latex backing, low pile, and flatweave design are perfect for high-trafficked areas like the entryway and family room.
    Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 June 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

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Cite this Entry

“Black.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/black. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.

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