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
Carthen partnered her dark brown, strapless pony hair gown with a cherry cola bob courtesy of Tai Simon, who used hair by Jade Cheveux. —Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 4 Nov. 2025 This is especially true of dark and brightly colored clothing which, when washed inside out, is less susceptible to color loss and fading. —Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Nov. 2025
Noun
Slowly, gaining confidence at shooting and interviewing, Pencic accumulated remarkable material from all kinds of places, shooting for four months, always, somehow, after dark. —Will Tizard, Variety, 27 Oct. 2025 Head to Grote Markt, where the Renaissance Town Hall sparkles with lights and the historic homes that fringe the square are illuminated after dark. —Sophie Friedman, AFAR Media, 27 Oct. 2025 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
  • The future of the 25-acre park in Alpine remains dim after a San Diego County judge ruled in the summer that county planners failed to abide by California’s environmental law in developing the project.
    — Hannah Elsmore, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Nov. 2025
  • Still, as more time passes, others feel that the fate of finding the historic jewels looks dim.
    — Dave Smith, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2025
Definition of dim
Adjective
  • The Steve Madde Rafe Mule in black leather is where comfort meets style.
    — Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 2 Nov. 2025
  • Her hair is often a massive tangle of black curls, her nails are expertly polished, her huge brown eyes peer out from spidery lashes, and her skin is cocoa-butter smooth.
    — Stephanie Mansfield, Vogue, 2 Nov. 2025
Definition of black
Adjective
  • While the eradication of our species might sound like a bleak ending note, Lanthimos tells EW that audiences are divided on whether the film presents a hopeful or pessimistic view of the future.
    — Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025
  • Duffy painted a bleak scene at airports if the shutdown is not ended before Thanksgiving travel.
    — Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
Definition of bleak
Adjective
  • But when asked how their organizations actually measure leadership trust, most were silent.
    — por John Blakey, Harvard Business Review, 4 Nov. 2025
  • The Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency's Akatsuki mission orbiting Venus was declared dead last week after engineers spent more than a year trying to get in touch with the silent spacecraft.
    — Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Definition of silent
Adjective
  • With stunning celerity, possibility becomes probability and then certainty, as readers reject the quiet, circuitous, and unglamorous narratives of prudential compromise, ambiguous diplomacy, or incremental progress.
    — Elizabeth D. Samet, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
  • Ibsen’s choice to use Hedda’s maiden name for the play speaks to her resistance to the strong presence of men in her life; DaCosta’s choice to remove the surname entirely speaks to a rejection of patriarchal identity, replaced with an ambiguous void that Hedda herself doesn’t know how to fill.
    — Rory Doherty, Time, 29 Oct. 2025
Definition of ambiguous
Adjective
  • In fact, the term itself was an epithet throughout the founding era, a way to describe ignorant and easily deceived popular majorities, perpetually vulnerable to demagogues.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
  • International students are close to entirely ignorant of Canadian history and politics.
    — Dónal Gill, The Dial, 28 Oct. 2025
Definition of ignorant
Adjective
  • But there are many other threats out there, like the evil wizard Vilgefortz (Mahesh Jadu) who attacks Yennefer’s forces in the climactic Battle of Montecalvo.
    — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 31 Oct. 2025
  • Forces of good and evil collide in a terrifying film where real-world challenges crash headlong into other worldly creatures and myths.
    — Justin Kroll, Deadline, 31 Oct. 2025
Definition of evil
Noun
  • There are long shadows on the ground.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 Nov. 2025
  • However, a telescope with an aperture of 6-inches or more with a magnification between 100X to 150X under good atmospheric conditions will provide a good view of the shadows, while helping to resolve details in the gas giant's stormy surface.
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Definition of shadows

Phrases Containing dark

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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 7 Nov. 2025.

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