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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to mar
to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable
the scandal darkened his otherwise sterling reputation
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of darken
Glossy, blonde waves perfectly frame her face, and her blue eyes, now darkened, smolder at the camera.
—
Brooke Migdon, PEOPLE, 30 Mar. 2026
If the Iran war drags on for months, the outlook could quickly darken, setting off a downward economic spiral as falling stocks give way to weaker spending and, ultimately, a recession.
—Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026
Two things persuaded Haagy to shelve his own plant research and zero in on the mystery of sky-darkening smog.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
Oh, and the grief was almost a person of its own, darkening the minds of some of the characters as much as any lightless corridor could darken a space.
—Literary Hub, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for darken
Brooke Migdon, PEOPLE, 30 Mar. 2026
If the Iran war drags on for months, the outlook could quickly darken, setting off a downward economic spiral as falling stocks give way to weaker spending and, ultimately, a recession.
—Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026
Two things persuaded Haagy to shelve his own plant research and zero in on the mystery of sky-darkening smog.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
Oh, and the grief was almost a person of its own, darkening the minds of some of the characters as much as any lightless corridor could darken a space.
—Literary Hub, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for darken
Recent Examples of Synonyms for darken
Verb
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Often vital when visiting Disneyland, smartphones are largely permitted, but even they are frowned upon on many attractions.—
Carly Caramanna,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Apr. 2026
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Meanwhile, loud prints and bright colors are frowned upon — something tournament organizers addressed with Jason Day in 2024.—
Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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When momentum faded, the stock rolled over, and those same lines flipped to resistance on the way down.—
Frank Cappelleri,
CNBC,
10 Apr. 2026
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The letters are printed on the sides of the keys rather than the top, which prevents fading.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Maritime tracking isn't foolproof, as ships can spoof or manipulate tracking systems to obscure their origin, destination and cargo.—
Steve Beynon,
ABC News,
13 Apr. 2026
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At the same time, Iran has become adapt at using chains of digital wallets to obscure crypto funds tied to the regime.—
Ben Weiss,
Fortune,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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DeChambeau shot 76 on a day marred by a triple-bogey 7 on the 11th hole.—
Justin Ray,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2026
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Wembanyama’s injury marred what was otherwise a red-letter day for the Spurs, who cemented the franchise’s eighth 60-win season one year after posting a 34-win campaign.—
Jeff McDonald,
San Antonio Express-News,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Naturally, Williams falls into the pool and uses the opportunity to take off his wet shirt, causing all the women, as well as the waitstaff, to helplessly stare at him.—
Tiffany Kelly,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 Apr. 2026
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Put Your Stamp On It Something that’s truly special about the museum is the interactive nature of its programming—this place isn’t about standing back and staring.—
Paul J. Heney,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The park is open from daylight to dusk for visitors and 24/7 for campers.—
Isa Almeida,
Oklahoman,
15 Jan. 2026
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Its hours are from dawn to dusk every day of the year.—
Cathy Kozlowicz,
jsonline.com,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Its Silk Serum Tinted Moisturizer Foundation is weightless and blurring, according to an editor.—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
11 Apr. 2026
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In addition to breaking news reports, these channels often broadcast shows devoted to commentary, especially regarding politics, as well as longer specials or documentaries, some of which blur the lines between entertainment or advocacy and journalism.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Foods with short shelf lives, like fresh produce, dairy, and oils, spoil quickly when bought in large quantities.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
9 Apr. 2026
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Groups of players will pass through every 10 minutes or so, and since cell phones are prohibited, there are no distractions – nothing can spoil the view.—
Don Riddell,
CNN Money,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Darken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/darken. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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