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
The special edition Valentine’s assortment features milk chocolate coated in festive hues of red and light and dark pinks. —Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 7 Jan. 2026 This footwear has been in style since last year and can easily make a nice contrasting outfit with having a dark leather uppers, feature rounded or squared toes that bring a contrasting hardness to mom jeans’ light washes and high-waist fit. —Aaron Royce, InStyle, 7 Jan. 2026
Noun
Columbus Police The footage shows the person in a dark, hooded top and lighter color pants, walking with their hands in their pockets. —Kiki Intarasuwan, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026 Sunny skies by day often bring clear nightscapes after dark, so soak up the starry splendor on the Tucson Astro Trail, which links 12 area observatories and dark-sky parks. —Stephanie Vermillion, Outside, 4 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dark
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dark
  1. dim
  2. black
  3. bleak
  4. silent
  5. ambiguous
  6. ignorant
  7. evil
  8. shadows
Adjective
  • Behind the funk Veteran tech analyst Paul Meeks attributes Nvidia’s dim performance to weak sentiment around the profitability of AI.
    — Pia Singh, CNBC, 14 Jan. 2026
  • And Seven Kingdoms does meet the high technical standards of the Thrones brand—immersive, bloody combat, dim lighting, and all.
    — Judy Berman, Time, 13 Jan. 2026
Definition of dim
Adjective
  • Pine, 45, wore a classic double-breasted black suit that featured a silk lapel with a crisp white shirt and a black bowtie.
    — Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026
  • The shoes’ uppers are overwhelmingly decorated with light, wispy petals made from all-black leather.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 12 Jan. 2026
Definition of black
Adjective
  • Her family later learned that on April 23, 2021 — the day Parker found his aunt in a bleak mood — Dee had an angry confrontation over financial issues with two employees of the trucking company.
    — Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026
  • Some of Tarr’s most memorable scenes feature landscapes, often bleak and despairing settings of decaying Hungarian towns, punctuated with close-ups of characters’ faces.
    — John Penner, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Definition of bleak
Adjective
  • As Jaclyn and Kate wax poetic about a dream vacation that never happened, Laurie’s weary, silent glances seem to tee up an explosive confrontation.
    — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Tisdale refused to stay silent, and texted the group after being left behind on another plan.
    — Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 6 Jan. 2026
Definition of silent
Adjective
  • Even in agencies that have, some policies are weak or ambiguous.
    — Ben Jones, Fortune, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Even in agencies that have, some policies are weak or ambiguous.
    — Ben Jones, The Conversation, 8 Jan. 2026
Definition of ambiguous
Adjective
  • On its face, the government's defense appears to be that the individuals behind these statements are ignorant or incompetent, or both.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025
  • The citizens of Oz are treated as no more than an undifferentiated crowd of extras, an ignorant and finally disposable monolith.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2025
Definition of ignorant
Adjective
  • In director John Boorman's extravagant sci-fi classic Excalibur (1981), the star played Morgana, King Arthur's estranged and evil half-sister.
    — Diane J. Cho, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
  • As that tension escalates, battles — between good and evil, fantasy and reality, collapse and triumph — ensue.
    — Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
Definition of evil
Noun
  • The changes also allowed Mingo to step out of the shadows cast by André DeShields and Richard Pryor, who played the Wiz in the original Broadway show and 1978 movie adaptation, and make the role his own.
    — Peter Larsen, Oc Register, 7 Jan. 2026
  • In it, prisoners trapped inside a cave perceive the world only through shadows cast by outside objects.
    — Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 7 Jan. 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 20 Jan. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of dark for Spanish Speakers

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