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

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

Reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring often, until mixture darkens slightly, about 3 minutes. — Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 15 June 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

Its charming glow is often visible even before the sky fully darkens, which is so fitting and poetic when considering both the planetary and astrological essence of Venus, the goddess of love and beauty. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 6 May 2026

Without an atmosphere, the surface would be especially vulnerable to this process, known as space weathering, which gradually breaks down and darkens rock. — Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 4 May 2026

As the song ticks past the 20-minute mark, Goldie’s voice gets increasingly desperate and the music darkens. — Ben Cardew, Pitchfork, 2 May 2026

As Europe's political climate darkens against refugees, asylum seekers and economic migrants, with governments including that of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni focusing resources on limiting new arrivals, Milan is taking a stand for a different approach. — Ruth Sherlock, NPR, 23 Feb. 2026