Synonyms of darken

darken

verb

ˈdär-kən 

1

as in to frown

to take on a gloomy or forbidding look

his face slowly darkened as we told him the sad news

Synonyms & Similar Words

• frown
• stare
• gloom
• glare
• lower
• rage
• anger
• glower
• scowl
• threaten
• brood
• steam
• pout
• intimidate
• sulk
• pet
• bristle
• storm
• menace
• fume
• mope

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lighten
• brighten
• cheer (up)
• perk (up)

2

as in to fade

to grow dark

the sky darkened as a storm moved in

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fade
• dusk
• blacken
• dim
• close in
• gloom
• wane
• black out
• lower

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• light
• lighten
• brighten
• glow
• shine
• beam
• dawn
• radiate

3

as in to obscure

to make dark, dim, or indistinct

years of accumulated grime have darkened the painting until it can barely be seen

Synonyms & Similar Words

• obscure
• blur
• blacken
• dim
• overshadow
• cloud
• mist
• overcast
• shadow
• becloud
• haze
• shroud
• fog
• conceal
• blear
• bedim
• hide
• shade
• obliterate
• cover
• overcloud
• befog
• fuzz (up)
• eclipse
• dislimn
• mask
• adumbrate
• blot out
• curtain
• screen
• veil
• camouflage
• cloak
• disguise

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lighten
• brighten
• illuminate
• light (up)
• reveal
• expose
• illumine
• uncover
• unveil

4

as in to mar

to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable

the scandal darkened his otherwise sterling reputation

Synonyms & Similar Words

• mar
• spoil
• taint
• stain
• poison
• touch
• tarnish
• blacken
• degrade
• distort
• vitiate
• discredit
• blemish
• smear
• pollute
• discolor
• blur
• soil
• corrupt
• dirty
• smudge
• besmirch
• sully
• cloud
• tar
• debase
• disgrace
• shame
• subvert
• sink
• demean
• lower
• cheapen
• dishonor
• pervert
• smut
• deprave
• smirch
• besmear
• color
• abase
• begrime
• debauch
• foul
• demoralize
• twist
• bastardize

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• purify
• cleanse
• elevate
• magnify
• glorify
• uplift
• dignify
• ennoble
• enshrine
• hallow

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of darken

Sun exposure can darken new scars permanently and slow their healing, so Min recommended keeping them covered as much as possible. — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 13 July 2026

As soon as the flesh is exposed to air, a natural enzyme reacts with oxygen in a process called oxidation, causing the surface to darken. — Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 12 July 2026

Alfred Dreyfus to warn that the ‘demons of antisemitism’ haunting France’s past are again darkening its present. — Masha MacPherson, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2026

In other words, these olives are often harvested while still green and then darkened through oxidation and other methods during processing. — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 11 July 2026