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
The sky darkened during the Rays’ fourth-inning rally, and light rain intensified into a heavy downpour an inning later.
—
Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 31 July 2025
Moments later, the sky darkens into a purplish blue before being split by a sharp bolt of lightning.
—Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 July 2025
But his worldview darkened as his fortunes declined.
—Dan Barry, Twin Cities, 21 July 2025
The French gray stone has darkened over nearly 200 years, but its light color and austerity contrast perceptively and soothingly with what is now Charlestown’s dense, ragtag city landscape.
—Brian T. Allen, National Review, 19 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for darken
Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 31 July 2025
Moments later, the sky darkens into a purplish blue before being split by a sharp bolt of lightning.
—Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 July 2025
But his worldview darkened as his fortunes declined.
—Dan Barry, Twin Cities, 21 July 2025
The French gray stone has darkened over nearly 200 years, but its light color and austerity contrast perceptively and soothingly with what is now Charlestown’s dense, ragtag city landscape.
—Brian T. Allen, National Review, 19 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for darken
Recent Examples of Synonyms for darken
Verb
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Read More: When TikTok Trends Send Kids to the Emergency Room In Western culture, open grief is often frowned upon, Giaxoglou says.—
Alessandra Schade,
Time,
5 Aug. 2025
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While slathering yourself with oil and laying out in the sun is highly (and rightfully) frowned upon in the beauty community, there is one type of oil that dermatologists stand by: the best SPF tanning oils.—
Alanna Martine Kilkeary,
Glamour,
24 June 2025
Verb
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The company is already expanding eastward, and backlash over the CEO’s address will fade quickly.—
Phillip Molnar,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Aug. 2025
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The story of Elvis’ rise and fall hasn’t faded from the public imagination, proving irresistible to filmmakers like Sofia Coppola and Baz Luhrmann.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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This thinking — amplified by extensive 24/7 hybrid media coverage and heated venture capital echo chambers — obscures a more nuanced transformation occurring at the periphery of traditional power structures.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
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Dujardin's lawsuit contends operators have had this trouble since 2007, as well as problems with long lagging footage, freezing frame, blurriness and shadows obscuring pedestrians.—
Chris Ramirez,
jsonline.com,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Both votes were marred by what prosecutors said was a massive vote-buying scheme orchestrated by Shor, who has spent much of his time in Russia since he was convicted for his role in the 2014 theft of $1 billion from Moldovan banks.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
5 Aug. 2025
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Economically and socially liberal, though marred by colonial exploitation, Dutch society flourished.—
Michael James Rocha,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Read More: Ex-Rival Speaks Highly of Philadelphia Eagles Initial reports suggested the star safety was staring at a missed first season in Houston.—
Justin Grasso,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Aug. 2025
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Everyone stared at their phones, following the live score in either acceptance or denial.—
Kylie Volavongsa,
jsonline.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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McFarland had been at the nursing home since March of 2022, when he was admitted as a hospice patient with a severe case of frostbite that left his feet blackened.—
Sarah Volpenhein,
jsonline.com,
25 July 2025
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Especially when his head gave a sickening whirl, blackening for a second, and his limbs seized again.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
People.com,
24 July 2025
Verb
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Even a slight shake from pressing the shutter can blur your moon shot, especially with slower shutter speeds in low light.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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In some respects, the line between Ray and Henry has been blurred as a result of the relationships the actor formed with his castmates, beginning with Mulgrew.—
Brande Victorian,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Dodge won't spoil the surprise by confirming if the last one will be based on the Charger or the Challenger (or maybe both), but the evidence suggests the latter is more likely.—
Jack Fitzgerald,
Car and Driver,
13 Feb. 2023
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Farmers’ broiler chickens suffocate, and dairy products spoil.—
Monica Mark,
The Christian Science Monitor,
10 Feb. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Darken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/darken. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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