dark 1 of 2

adjective

ˈdärk How to pronounce dark (audio)
Definition of darknext
1
as in dim
being without light or without much light a dark alley that most people wisely avoided

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2
as in black
not having a light complexion he was tall, dark, and handsome

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3
as in bleak
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer her mind was filled with dark thoughts until the results of the medical test came back as negative

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4
as in silent
given to keeping one's activities hidden from public observation or knowledge the actor was always quite dark about his life before his arrival in Hollywood

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5
as in ambiguous
having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning the superhero was not daunted by the villain's dark threats

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6
as in ignorant
lacking in education or the knowledge gained from books is known as a dark period in European history when people lived in ignorance, fear, and want

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7
as in evil
not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable dark deeds that resulted in the Russian czar being known to history as Ivan the Terrible

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dark

2 of 2

noun

1
as in shadows
a time or place of little or no light I have a bad habit of running into tables in the dark

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2
as in night
the time from sunset to sunrise when there is no visible sunlight we were going to wait until dark to go trick-or-treating

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word dark different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of dark are ambiguous, cryptic, enigmatic, equivocal, obscure, and vague. While all these words mean "not clearly understandable," dark implies an imperfect or clouded revelation often with ominous or sinister suggestion.

muttered dark hints of revenge

In what contexts can ambiguous take the place of dark?

The meanings of ambiguous and dark largely overlap; however, ambiguous applies to language capable of more than one interpretation.

an ambiguous directive

When might cryptic be a better fit than dark?

While in some cases nearly identical to dark, cryptic implies a purposely concealed meaning.

cryptic hints of hidden treasure

When could enigmatic be used to replace dark?

The synonyms enigmatic and dark are sometimes interchangeable, but enigmatic stresses a puzzling, mystifying quality.

enigmatic occult writings

When can equivocal be used instead of dark?

The words equivocal and dark are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, equivocal applies to language left open to differing interpretations with the intention of deceiving or evading.

moral precepts with equivocal phrasing

When is obscure a more appropriate choice than dark?

In some situations, the words obscure and dark are roughly equivalent. However, obscure implies a hiding or veiling of meaning through some inadequacy of expression or withholding of full knowledge.

obscure poems

When would vague be a good substitute for dark?

While the synonyms vague and dark are close in meaning, vague implies a lack of clear formulation due to inadequate conception or consideration.

a vague sense of obligation

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 dark
Adjective
Glass walls and dark wood framing give the home a seamless connection to its surroundings. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 3 Nov. 2026 Attend a Peaceful Concert in a Historic Church What’s the antidote for the approaching dark, chilly days? — Allison Yates, Midwest Living, 3 Nov. 2026
Noun
Some other notable details are its Super-LumiNova glow-in-the-dark features — numbers 2 and 6 glow different colors to nod to the running back’s jersey number, 26. — Kanika Talwar, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026 The good news is that the winds are expected to lay down after dark. — Tom Tapp, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dark
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dark
  1. murky
  2. black
  3. bleak
  4. silent
  5. ambiguous
  6. ignorant
  7. evil
  8. shadows
Adjective
  • But the meteoric takeoff of karaoke has soared far past its humble—and slightly murky—origins.
    — Skyli Alvarez, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Nov. 2026
  • But the distinction between physical and mental phenomena becomes murky in disembodied entities like language models.
    — Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of murky
Adjective
  • Russian media outlets later reported that the attack sparked a blaze at the Kstovo oil refinery, sharing images of black plumes of smoke over the horizon.
    — HANNA ARHIROVA, Arkansas Online, 2 Nov. 2026
  • This pick, for example, adds a pop of color to contrast the black jeans and booties, while the purple hue nods to current trends without being too obvious.
    — India Roby, Glamour, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of black
Adjective
  • His isolated existence is bleak, especially for such a bighearted person naturally inclined to love others.
    — Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2026
  • But in a bleak indicator of the current political climate, the bait was inflammatory content about Muslims.
    — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of bleak
Adjective
  • On the whole, the average person generally prefers CEOs to stay silent on divisive political issues, the study found.
    — Tom Huddleston Jr., CNBC, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Proponents tout thousands of short-term construction jobs while remaining completely silent on long-term traffic, property value, and localized economic and environmental impact studies.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of silent
Adjective
  • The cover art for The Holy Cross Tigers is awash in burgundy, a more ambiguous shade that’s indicative of the oppositional emotions stewing within.
    — Stuart Berman, Pitchfork, 5 Nov. 2026
  • But Maryland’s climate goals have been ambiguous and inconsistent.
    — Alex Pavlak, Baltimore Sun, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of ambiguous
Adjective
  • Understandably, Penn struggles to hold these disparate points of focus together with a performance that vacillates between disarmingly dopey and almost willfully ignorant of the realities of the 2000s media landscape.
    — Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Some people in the White House treated Jackie as a cipher, ignorant of almost everything happening.
    — Laurence Leamer, Vanity Fair, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of ignorant
Adjective
  • One of the guests chuckles with evil delight when Kerry confirms that someone got in trouble.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Vallow Daybell holds doomsday religious beliefs and has claimed that people in her life were possessed by evil spirits.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of evil
Noun
  • If there's snow on the ground, check for shadows made by Venus's light.
    — Joe Rao, Space.com, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Rattlesnakes are lazy hunters that wait in the shadows for prey to approach.
    — RJ Mackenzie, Popular Science, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of shadows

Phrases Containing dark

Browse Nearby Words

daringness
dark
dark age
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Cite this Entry

“Dark.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dark. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

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