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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in taints
to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable
the scandal darkened his otherwise sterling reputation
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 darkens
This higher temperature darkens the paste, slightly caramelizes the sugar, and deactivates enzymes that would otherwise break down pectin, resulting in a thicker, more cooked-tasting product.
—
Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 7 Jan. 2026
Every night from January 2 – 4, the super Wolf Moon can be seen in the eastern sky as the sky darkens, rising higher and moving southward as midnight draws near, according to BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
—Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 2 Jan. 2026
Ash-like material darkens the air, coming out of the giant cracks in the world Vecna ripped open by using the lives of four people, including the now-comatose Max, to open four gates from the Upside Down.
—Jennifer Maas, Variety, 26 Nov. 2025
What begins as an electrifying portrait of the band onstage and in transit gradually darkens as the filmmakers chronicle the planning and disastrous execution of the free Altamont Speedway concert that December.
—Jordan Runtagh, PEOPLE, 22 Nov. 2025
Elsewhere, an unexpected power shift darkens the brotherhood bond between Phil (Adrian Holmes) and Geoffrey (Jimmy Akingbola), whose loyalties to the Banks family are tested.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 3 Nov. 2025
The dishwasher often darkens and discolors aluminum cookware.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 30 Oct. 2025
Today, as a government shutdown darkens our national museums and the National Endowment for the Humanities is gutted, the danger is no longer a matter of rhetoric but of radical, systemic action.
—Andrew Weinstein, Time, 24 Oct. 2025
The tree produces an annual fall harvest of walnuts, enclosed in a green husk that darkens when ripe.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 7 Jan. 2026
Every night from January 2 – 4, the super Wolf Moon can be seen in the eastern sky as the sky darkens, rising higher and moving southward as midnight draws near, according to BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
—Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 2 Jan. 2026
Ash-like material darkens the air, coming out of the giant cracks in the world Vecna ripped open by using the lives of four people, including the now-comatose Max, to open four gates from the Upside Down.
—Jennifer Maas, Variety, 26 Nov. 2025
What begins as an electrifying portrait of the band onstage and in transit gradually darkens as the filmmakers chronicle the planning and disastrous execution of the free Altamont Speedway concert that December.
—Jordan Runtagh, PEOPLE, 22 Nov. 2025
Elsewhere, an unexpected power shift darkens the brotherhood bond between Phil (Adrian Holmes) and Geoffrey (Jimmy Akingbola), whose loyalties to the Banks family are tested.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 3 Nov. 2025
The dishwasher often darkens and discolors aluminum cookware.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 30 Oct. 2025
Today, as a government shutdown darkens our national museums and the National Endowment for the Humanities is gutted, the danger is no longer a matter of rhetoric but of radical, systemic action.
—Andrew Weinstein, Time, 24 Oct. 2025
The tree produces an annual fall harvest of walnuts, enclosed in a green husk that darkens when ripe.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for darkens
Verb
-
Not explained is whether Makary would be happier if drug companies placed ads with immobile patients, frowns, and funereal music.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Ken’yaku, a commitment to frugality, is detectable in a corporate culture that frowns on perks or frills.—
Lauren Collins,
New Yorker,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
That relatively minor problem fades into the background when he’s suddenly called back to his hometown to raise an estranged teenage daughter (Hannah Elise Adolfsen Fjeldbraaten) who doesn’t want to know him.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
30 Jan. 2026
-
For most people, the effect is mild and fades as your body processes the caffeine.—
Brandi Jones,
Verywell Health,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The chaos and controversy obscures positive developments that are occurring in Broward schools every day.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Amarnath told Fortune the political rhetoric around reshoring often obscures the reality facing manufacturers operating in the present tense.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The film centered on the Environmental Protection Agency encasing the Simpsons’ hometown of Springfield in a dome after Homer taints the area’s water supply.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Training your back and other opposing muscle groups alongside your pecs helps maintain alignment, improves posture, lowers injury risk and can make your chest look stronger and be more defined.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
1 Feb. 2026
-
The result is a faster, greener process that significantly lowers energy and solvent consumption while delivering high yields and exceptional purity, making large-scale Duzhong rubber production more practical and sustainable.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
As a popular fantasy series takes over his town, the line between fact and fiction blurs.—
Marta Balaga,
Variety,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The new position blurs that line even more.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The picture exudes both grace and vulnerability, and hints at imperfection by way of a disconcerting, coral-like wrinkle that mars the foot’s heel.—
Chris Wiley,
New Yorker,
20 Dec. 2025
-
Deadly holiday weekend mars broad crime drop The back-and-forth followed a Labor Day weekend of deadly violence in Chicago worse than in the previous two years, with seven people shot to death, according to preliminary Chicago Police Department reports.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
As Ji Seon stares in shock, her friends cheer in the background, chanting at her to say yes, ha.—
Hannah Abraham,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Providing some respite from the violent mayhem are scenes in which Manafort stares intently at computer screens tracking what’s going on and the new MI6 chief (Ackie) barks orders at her underlings.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Darkens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/darkens. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
