Synonyms of darkens

darkens

verb

present tense third-person singular of darken

1

as in frowns

to take on a gloomy or forbidding look

his face slowly darkened as we told him the sad news

Synonyms & Similar Words

• frowns
• lowers
• stares
• rages
• glares
• glowers
• scowls
• angers
• glooms
• broods
• pouts
• threatens
• steams
• sulks
• intimidates
• fumes
• bristles
• storms
• pets
• mopes
• menaces

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lightens
• brightens
• cheers (up)
• perks (up)

2

as in fades

to grow dark

the sky darkened as a storm moved in

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fades
• blackens
• dims
• closes in
• dusks
• wanes
• blacks out
• glooms
• lowers

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lights
• lightens
• brightens
• shines
• beams
• radiates
• dawns
• glows

3

as in obscures

to make dark, dim, or indistinct

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• obscures
• blurs
• blackens
• dims
• overshadows
• clouds
• shadows
• shrouds
• hazes
• beclouds
• fogs
• mists
• conceals
• overcasts
• hides
• fuzzes (up)
• obliterates
• shades
• befogs
• bedims
• covers
• blears
• eclipses
• overclouds
• dislimns
• adumbrates
• camouflages
• masks
• blots out
• curtains
• screens
• cloaks
• disguises
• veils

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• illuminates
• lights (up)
• reveals
• lightens
• brightens
• exposes
• illumines
• uncovers
• unveils

4

as in taints

to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable

the scandal darkened his otherwise sterling reputation

Synonyms & Similar Words

• taints
• mars
• spoils
• poisons
• stains
• touches
• tarnishes
• blackens
• degrades
• lowers
• distorts
• vitiates
• discredits
• corrupts
• blurs
• pollutes
• discolors
• smears
• sullies
• blemishes
• shames
• clouds
• dirties
• smudges
• soils
• tars
• debases
• demeans
• disgraces
• subverts
• dishonors
• sinks
• cheapens
• perverts
• besmirches
• colors
• abases
• debauches
• demoralizes
• besmears
• begrimes
• smuts
• depraves
• smirches
• twists
• fouls
• bastardizes

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• purifies
• cleanses
• elevates
• magnifies
• ennobles
• uplifts
• glorifies
• enshrines
• dignifies
• hallows

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of darkens

Saturn is evident for much of the night, appearing low in the eastern sky as the sky darkens and reaching its highest point in the southern sky soon after midnight. — Joe Rao, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2026

The planet becomes easier to identify as the sky darkens, making the best time for viewing during the late-night and early-morning hours. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 24 Aug. 2026

Young agent Nina is recuperating in Corfu after a botched mission in the Balkans, but the idyllic landscape darkens when an agent is murdered. — Monitor Reviewers, Christian Science Monitor, 21 Aug. 2026

Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty Images A total solar eclipse darkens the skies over northeastern Spain, with Corbera dâEbre, in Tarragona, Spain, on August 12, 2026, among the locations along the path of totality. — Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 13 Aug. 2026

The sky darkens to twilight, exposing the sun's corona and sometimes revealing stars and planets as temperatures briefly cool. — Stephen J. Beard, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026

Continue cooking until butter begins to smell nutty and darkens in color. — Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 7 Aug. 2026

Cook, stirring often, until paste darkens in color, about 4 minutes. — Rachel Dolfi, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 July 2026

In addition to causing harmful health impacts, wildfire smoke also darkens glaciers in the mountains. — Joshua Partlow, The Atlantic, 16 July 2026