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

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

During totality, the sky darkens significantly, temperatures drop and bright stars and planets can even become visible. — Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 10 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

Citizen scientists are invited to build their own instrument to measure changes that occur in the atmosphere when the sky momentarily darkens. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 6 June 2026

Pass the flame over the weed until the foliage darkens. — David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 16 May 2026