darkening 1 of 2

adjective

as in dark
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer a darkening sky that seemed to match our downcast spirits

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

darkening

2 of 2

verb

present participle of darken
1
as in frowning
to take on a gloomy or forbidding look his face slowly darkened as we told him the sad news

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fading
to grow dark the sky darkened as a storm moved in

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in obscuring
to make dark, dim, or indistinct years of accumulated grime have darkened the painting until it can barely be seen

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4
as in marring
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

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 darkening
Verb
The Hapsburg Inspector General, the equivalent of the food inspector darkening the doorway of a scummy restaurant? — Diana Arterian, Literary Hub, 16 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 It’s made of a cotton-linen blend that lets the sunlight in, and its 100-percent-cotton backing layer is just thick enough to keep the summer heat out of the room without darkening it. — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 11 July 2026 Auto-correct tools generally brighten photos, but this one also knows when an image needs darkening. — Michael Muchmore, PC Magazine, 29 June 2026 Moonrise will take place across North America in blue hour, when the sky is darkening but still retains color — perfect timing. — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026 Today, the skies seem to be darkening once again. — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 19 June 2026 One brush fire from the summer storm then split into two, and the raging flames sent plumes of black smoke upward, darkening the skies for miles and fouling the air. — Kairi Lowery, Miami Herald, 18 June 2026 Its trio, a lonely fox-deer, an axolotl apprentice healer and a red panda Viking, travel through a darkening natural world as the series folds identity, belonging and environmental crisis. — Callum McLennan, Variety, 1 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for darkening
  1. dark
  2. frowning
  3. fading
  4. obscuring
  5. marring
  6. bleak
  7. staring
  8. blackening
Adjective
  • Aerial footage showed heavy damage to the suspect's vehicle, a dark gray sedan.
    — Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 14 July 2026
  • They're headed to a battery recycler who will shred them into a fine, dark powder called black mass, from which those minerals can be recovered and reused in new batteries.
    — Camila Domonoske, NPR, 13 July 2026
Definition of dark
Verb
  • This focuses readers on the all-black uniforms of the veiled pupils, who—in a long frame at the center of the page—sit between the looming, frowning teacher on the right and Marji on the left, who stands up to explain that her uncle was executed by the Islamic regime.
    — Hillary Chute, The Atlantic, 9 June 2026
  • Woods, 50, is seen frowning in the photo, taken shortly after the legendary golfer was booked into jail on March 27 after his Land Rover rolled over in Jupiter Island, Florida.
    — Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026
Definition of frowning
Verb
  • Bullish risk reversal In an attempt to capitalize on the historically expensive downside SPCX options and position for a violent snap-back, this risk reversal seeks to finance upside exposure by fading the put skew.
    — Jeff Kilburg, CNBC, 17 July 2026
  • Designed to resist fading from chlorine and sunscreen, the material will stay intact for many summers to come.
    — Alexandra Malmed, InStyle, 16 July 2026
Definition of fading
Verb
  • Also, there are important players coming back from significant injuries, obscuring the picture.
    — David Aldridge, New York Times, 2 July 2026
  • The lens has a Ri-Pel coating that allows for water and sweat to bead up and slide off the surface, rather than obscuring vision.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 June 2026
Definition of obscuring
Verb
  • Lined with live oaks and old-fashioned, busy storefronts, this artsy town on the Gulf of Mexico has no commercial development marring its shoreline.
    — Valerie Fraser Luesse, Southern Living, 16 June 2026
  • In Strasbourg, groups of Palace supporters clashed among themselves in a square in the city centre, marring the occasion.
    — Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 28 May 2026
Definition of marring
Adjective
  • Political instability is the new normal, and the national mood is bleak.
    — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
  • And into this bleak landscape marches the blue-haired angel, Gabriel.
    — Josh Fox, IndieWire, 17 July 2026
Definition of bleak
Verb
  • The banners of Hightower green burning in the night, Rhaenyra staring ominously through the flames.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
  • Now, yes, staring at the ceiling long enough to draw you a diagram of the paint peeling.
    — Danielle Parker, CBS News, 30 June 2026
Definition of staring
Verb
  • Check monthly for signs of shriveling (add moisture), blackening or softening (discard).
    — Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2026
  • The Volcano fire was among blazes this week, blackening more than 100 acres in Riverside County.
    — Joseph Serna, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
Definition of blackening

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Cite this Entry

“Darkening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/darkening. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

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