darkness

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as in night
the time from sunset to sunrise when there is no visible sunlight let's wait for darkness before telling ghost stories

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4
as in cloud
an overspreading element that produces an atmosphere of gloom the darkness of that period of my life is best forgotten

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 darkness This forecast — which is subject to change — means the geomagnetic storm will coincide with the limited hours of darkness in all U.S. time zones. Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025 Sunlight barely made it all the way down, and pigeons used the cool darkness for their mating rituals. Ottessa Moshfegh, New Yorker, 30 June 2025 If a panel fails to express those subtleties, all the audience sees is a flat mass of darkness. Bae Dongmi, Variety, 30 June 2025 There is darkness out there, and it’s got to go somewhere. Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 22 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for darkness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for darkness
Noun
  • So the show and now the play is kind of like, maybe a dark PG-13, like an 80s PG-13.
    Eliana Dockterman, Time, 1 July 2025
  • Though most body mists tend to be perfect for day wear, this could easily work after dark too.
    Celia Shatzman, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
Noun
  • Young people lack experience with the awkward pauses of conversation, the ambiguity of social cues, and the grit required to make up with a hurt or angry friend.
    Russell Shaw, The Atlantic, 11 July 2025
  • Poker Face has played fast and loose with how Charlie’s gift actually works, an intentional ambiguity that only gets more complicated with the reveal that actually, yeah, Charlie can be lied to.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 July 2025
Noun
  • Chicago Sky star Angel Reese added to the chorus of complaints about WNBA officials following the team’s 80-75 loss to the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday night.
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 8 July 2025
  • Anthony’s homer headlined a night of wild firsts for the Red Sox.
    Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 8 July 2025
Noun
  • Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 12 July 2025
  • There are both federal regulations and state regulations for cloud seeding and other forms of weather modification.
    Brandi D. Addison, Austin American Statesman, 12 July 2025
Noun
  • Roving teams of federal immigration agents have cast a pall of fear across many of the region’s communities.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2025
  • The churn has cast a pall of uncertainty over the vote.
    David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 27 June 2025
Noun
  • The cliffs loomed up terribly out of the blackness.
    Nicole Krauss, The Atlantic, 6 July 2025
  • Four months’ worth of rain fell in just hours as water-laden thunderstorms stalled in place, giving rise to a wall of water that surged down the river in the blackness of night, limiting the number of people who could get the warnings and move to higher ground.
    Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 6 July 2025
Noun
  • Winged Photo Competition Winners At dusk, a family of six Honduran white bats roost on the underside of a leaf, preparing to take off in search of their dinner.
    Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
  • These fogging operations take place at dusk, when mosquitoes are most active and looking for food, officials said.
    Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2025
Noun
  • Flaunt this fun, floral style, or opt for their best-selling classic black.
    Meg Donohue, Town & Country, 31 Jan. 2023
  • Take your pick from black to mocha to crisp, winter white.
    Taylor Jean Stephan, Peoplemag, 31 Jan. 2023

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Cite this Entry

“Darkness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/darkness. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

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