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

Again, some are pretty obvious—wide-angle broadens the lens's view, Vignette darkens the edges, and Soft Focus captures glowing, ethereal pictures. — Jim Fisher, PC Magazine, 5 Nov. 2026

But look past insurance acceptance and ask whether more people are actually getting – and staying on – treatment, and the picture darkens. — Yashaswini Singh, The Conversation, 28 Oct. 2026

But whether in Frankfurt or, later, Weimar — where Soviet officials are as keen to canonize Thomas — this father and daughter aren’t simply driving through Germany but taking a tour across fascism’s long shadow, which still darkens the world. — Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026

Instead, the surrounding sky darkens, increasing the contrast until the pale daytime moon seems to switch on at dusk and grow increasingly brilliant. — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Cook until the sauce darkens and thickens, about 1 to 2 minutes. — Candy Hom, AJC.com, 12 Oct. 2026

Pour in the tomato puree, mix gently, partially cover, and cook until the puree darkens and thickens and has mostly been absorbed by the rice, about 3 minutes. — ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026

Some woods are very photosensitive, like cherry and walnut, but cherry darkens with sun exposure while walnut fades. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 13 Sep. 2026

When a treatment starts, the room darkens, and chromatherapy lights cast soft purple, blue, and red hues across the room as a soft mist showers down from the ceiling. — Jen Murphy, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2026