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
Visitors step from the bright riverfront into a dark passage lined with glowing photographs of caves, as a low electronic pulse seems to breathe through the walls. —ABC News, 16 June 2026 And a darker, weirder Washington would have made for a better movie. —James Parker, The Atlantic, 16 June 2026
Noun
Search crews from San Miguel County and Dolores County set about trying to find the woman -- who didn't have equipment for spending a night outside in the wild -- right before dark. —Jesse Sarles, CBS News, 11 June 2026 Complete with glow-in-the-dark buttons and an antenna, the prop certainly seemed less likely to get its owner in legal trouble. —Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 4 June 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
  • Algae bloomed late last week just days after the completion of the renovation, turning the pool from deep blue to green and murky.
    — Jonathan Karl, ABC News, 18 June 2026
  • The details remain murky, but reports indicated that American and Iranian leaders on Monday signed an agreement intended to end hostilities between the countries.
    — Las Vegas Review-Journal, Twin Cities, 18 June 2026
Definition of murky
Adjective
  • Trudeau embraced the Southern California vibes and wore a green T-shirt with black shorts and a pair of dark sunglasses.
    — Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 16 June 2026
  • Meanwhile, the day-shifters all abruptly acquire eye-black face paint for some unexplained reason.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 16 June 2026
Definition of black
Adjective
  • My father is a can-do, glass-half-full guy, a quality that has always felt like a rebuke of my own bleak world view, which makes the poor man literally wince.
    — Sarah Miller, New Yorker, 20 June 2026
  • The numbers were even bleaker in other categories.
    — Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
Definition of bleak
Adjective
  • Coffin came up with the 1920s backdrop – an era that saw cinema shift from silent films to talkies — and did something the franchise rarely permits — make something personal.
    — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 20 June 2026
  • The Rangers offense was silent during the beginning of the game, while the defense held together.
    — Cal Phillips, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 June 2026
Definition of silent
Adjective
  • As the noise-rap-electro act Jane Remover shrieked and pleaded through a 90-minute marathon set at the Fonda on Thursday night, one very young couple dressed right out of a conservative‘s nightmare — gender-ambiguous, purple hair, facial piercings — tapped me on the shoulder.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
  • At a billion scans a month, even modest rates imply hundreds of millions of ambiguous results a year, each one demanding a clinical decision and producing a worried customer.
    — Gabriel Alin Zainescu, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
Definition of ambiguous
Adjective
  • Their earliest performances could be fun and irreverent, too, but Boy George says they were also marred by ignorant, homophobic heckling.
    — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 14 June 2026
  • And using both words does not reveal that a person is ignorant but rather cosmopolitan.
    — Kirk Bowman, The Conversation, 4 June 2026
Definition of ignorant
Adjective
  • Zoroastrianism’s core tenets – a single God, the cosmic struggle between good and evil – are widely believed by historians to have formed the theological groundwork for the major Abrahamic religions.
    — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 21 June 2026
  • Not all devices are evil, the toys realize, and even the best machines—like even the best toys—will eventually break down and get tossed aside for a shiny new model.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 19 June 2026
Definition of evil
Noun
  • The floating lids of storage tanks throw shadows that show how full each tank is.
    — Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026
  • Caffeine and algae extract target puffiness and dullness, making dark spots and undereye shadows less pronounced over time.
    — Jailynn Taylor, Allure, 13 June 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 21 Jun. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of dark for Spanish Speakers

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