dark 1 of 2

adjective

ˈdärk How to pronounce dark (audio)
Definition of darknext
1
as in dim
being without light or without much light a dark alley that most people wisely avoided

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2
as in black
not having a light complexion he was tall, dark, and handsome

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3
as in bleak
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer her mind was filled with dark thoughts until the results of the medical test came back as negative

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4
as in silent
given to keeping one's activities hidden from public observation or knowledge the actor was always quite dark about his life before his arrival in Hollywood

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5
as in ambiguous
having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning the superhero was not daunted by the villain's dark threats

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6
as in ignorant
lacking in education or the knowledge gained from books is known as a dark period in European history when people lived in ignorance, fear, and want

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7
as in evil
not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable dark deeds that resulted in the Russian czar being known to history as Ivan the Terrible

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dark

2 of 2

noun

1
as in shadows
a time or place of little or no light I have a bad habit of running into tables in the dark

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2
as in night
the time from sunset to sunrise when there is no visible sunlight we were going to wait until dark to go trick-or-treating

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word dark different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of dark are ambiguous, cryptic, enigmatic, equivocal, obscure, and vague. While all these words mean "not clearly understandable," dark implies an imperfect or clouded revelation often with ominous or sinister suggestion.

muttered dark hints of revenge

In what contexts can ambiguous take the place of dark?

The meanings of ambiguous and dark largely overlap; however, ambiguous applies to language capable of more than one interpretation.

an ambiguous directive

When might cryptic be a better fit than dark?

While in some cases nearly identical to dark, cryptic implies a purposely concealed meaning.

cryptic hints of hidden treasure

When could enigmatic be used to replace dark?

The synonyms enigmatic and dark are sometimes interchangeable, but enigmatic stresses a puzzling, mystifying quality.

enigmatic occult writings

When can equivocal be used instead of dark?

The words equivocal and dark are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, equivocal applies to language left open to differing interpretations with the intention of deceiving or evading.

moral precepts with equivocal phrasing

When is obscure a more appropriate choice than dark?

In some situations, the words obscure and dark are roughly equivalent. However, obscure implies a hiding or veiling of meaning through some inadequacy of expression or withholding of full knowledge.

obscure poems

When would vague be a good substitute for dark?

While the synonyms vague and dark are close in meaning, vague implies a lack of clear formulation due to inadequate conception or consideration.

a vague sense of obligation

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 dark
Adjective
The final vehicles before the arrival of the race convoy are hurriedly rushed off-course, officials in dark blue polo shirts whistling them through. — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 20 July 2026 For the best chance of viewing the shower, head somewhere safe and dark outside and be prepared to spend a long time gazing at the sky. — Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 20 July 2026
Noun
Keeping Lights on All Night Fireflies need plenty of dark to put on their nocturnal light show and attract the mates needed to produce the next generation of fireflies. — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 July 2026 Jamie Carter Timeline Friday, July 17A 17%-lit waxing crescent moon will shine just to the left of Venus in the west after dark. — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for dark
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dark
  1. murky
  2. black
  3. bleak
  4. silent
  5. ambiguous
  6. ignorant
  7. evil
  8. shadows
Adjective
  • Yes, Nolan’s tendency to make the sound editing a bit murky or a bit too loud at times while the dialogue sinks into the sonic muck, all these things are true here.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
  • Beyond logistics, the legality of federalizing election processes is murky.
    — SoRelle Wyckoff Gaynor, The Conversation, 17 July 2026
Definition of murky
Adjective
  • Police detained Schmidt twice during the altercation, originally placing him into the police vehicle after the officer shot his black Labrador, according to eyewitness Paul Bates.
    — Gabe White, Arkansas Online, 21 July 2026
  • In the coming years, more buildings aim to match the Waldorf’s height, including Dolce & Gabbana’s first foray into luxury homes and hotel rooms with a monumental matte black and ivory tower capped with gold.
    — Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 21 July 2026
Definition of black
Adjective
  • Political instability is the new normal, and the national mood is bleak.
    — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
  • And into this bleak landscape marches the blue-haired angel, Gabriel.
    — Josh Fox, IndieWire, 17 July 2026
Definition of bleak
Adjective
  • The glacial beats and the near-silent raps full of heartbreak and drugs are best absorbed through headphones.
    — Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 17 July 2026
  • The Grok elephant in the room Although Apple has removed some apps flagged by researchers, the iPhone maker otherwise has remained notably silent amid calls to police nudification apps more aggressively in its App Store.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 17 July 2026
Definition of silent
Adjective
  • Without getting into spoilers, the series wraps on an ambiguous ending that asks the viewer to decide just how much Lonnie has grown.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 16 July 2026
  • Before Bear makes his wish, the film is purposefully ambiguous about whether Nikki has any real feelings for him.
    — Tania Azhang, Sacbee.com, 16 July 2026
Definition of ambiguous
Adjective
  • Any advice on how to tune out ignorant neighbors who refuse to shut up?
    — R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 15 July 2026
  • There’s a difference between being educated and being ignorant.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026
Definition of ignorant
Adjective
  • In addition to the Griffins’ evil-genius toddler son, MacFarlane will voice Bean, Stewie’s man-of-very-few-words classmate who was dropped on his head one too many times.
    — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 22 July 2026
  • With the franchise’s trademark blend of extreme gore and dark humor, the Evil Dead backstory centers on the ancient Book of the Dead that unleashes supernatural evil forces and twists victims into sadistic, shape-shifting, near-invincible monsters.
    — Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 21 July 2026
Definition of evil
Noun
  • While humanity knows about superheroes like Spider-Man (hence, the events of the previous games), mutants are still largely living in the shadows.
    — Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 22 July 2026
  • Lancelot, noticeably weary, impassive, and preoccupied atop an equally weary black horse, follows the sorcerer, while Merlin leads him up the path into the realm of shadows, out of the frame to the left.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 July 2026
Definition of shadows

Phrases Containing dark

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daringness
dark
dark age
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Cite this Entry

“Dark.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dark. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of dark for Spanish Speakers

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