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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of darken
While the peel may darken in color, the fruit inside will remain perfectly ripe and fresh for longer.
—
Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 31 Dec. 2025
Adams has spent his final months in office globetrotting and shoring up his legacy, touting his accomplishments during a stormy tenure as mayor darkened by corruption charges in late 2024.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 29 Dec. 2025
But polls now show those voters’ expectations have been dashed, and consumer sentiment continues to darken.
—Ian Bremmer, Time, 28 Dec. 2025
As the skies darkened ahead of Christmas Eve, volunteers shifted and set up for the annual community brunch hosted on Anaheim’s West Center Street Promenade in a nearby parking structure instead.
—Heather McRea, Oc Register, 24 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for darken
Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 31 Dec. 2025
Adams has spent his final months in office globetrotting and shoring up his legacy, touting his accomplishments during a stormy tenure as mayor darkened by corruption charges in late 2024.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 29 Dec. 2025
But polls now show those voters’ expectations have been dashed, and consumer sentiment continues to darken.
—Ian Bremmer, Time, 28 Dec. 2025
As the skies darkened ahead of Christmas Eve, volunteers shifted and set up for the annual community brunch hosted on Anaheim’s West Center Street Promenade in a nearby parking structure instead.
—Heather McRea, Oc Register, 24 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for darken
Recent Examples of Synonyms for darken
Verb
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Good to know that kidnapping is still generally frowned upon by the French government.—
Elie Mystal,
Washington Post,
7 Jan. 2026
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My mother has never sought attention, and self-promotion is largely frowned upon in our family.—
Peter Kiefer,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The California Association of Realtors also predicts that, as economic uncertainty fades and rates begin to decline more steadily, the housing market should improve throughout 2026.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
12 Jan. 2026
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As human activity and food waste returned, those differences appeared to fade in later generations.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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This International Dark Sky Park, located in southwest Texas, is about a six-hour drive from San Antonio, the nearest city, so there won't be much light pollution obscuring your views of the constellations.—
Elizabeth Rhodes,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Jan. 2026
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Medical issues and money woes can create a fog of anxiety that obscures the path forward.—
Eric Thomas,
Baltimore Sun,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The announcement comes as consumer demand for plug-in hybrids has slowed and federal support for electric powertrains has vanished, while, simultaneously, certain Stellantis 4xe vehicles have been marred by continuous recalls.—
Liam Rappleye,
Freep.com,
9 Jan. 2026
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Their union was marred by affairs on both sides, perhaps most notably Charles’s ongoing affair with the former Camilla Parker Bowles (now Queen Camilla).—
Rachel Burchfield,
InStyle,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Watch Lottie interact with elk in wholesome moment Video footage recorded by Dewey shows Lottie staring towards the camera as an elk approaches and cautiously walks closer to her.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
10 Jan. 2026
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In doing so, the artist grants his subjects newfound interiority, as viewers are invited to convene and gather rather than simply stare.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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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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About Modern Work Spaces Hackl says that efficient workflows are still the primary goal, but the concept has changed in a way that blurs the lines of the classic three-sided shape.—
Kristina McGuirk,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Jan. 2026
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Their guests are capitalizing on the clout economy, where the line between influencer and entrepreneur is blurred and attention is the most valuable asset.—
Julia Black,
Vanity Fair,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Nothing spoils a vacation faster than an ill-fitting pair of shoes.—
Michelle Baricevic,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Jan. 2026
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Only The Pitt will still be eligible to repeat these wins at the Emmys in the fall—but at least, as with the Globes, Heated Rivalry will not be skating in to spoil any longer-standing shows’ awards dreams.—
Eve Batey,
Vanity Fair,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Darken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/darken. Accessed 14 Jan. 2026.
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