darkness

Definition of darknessnext
1
2
3
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 Earlier in the season, Rodríguez spoke with PEOPLE about how the show tries to balance the darkness, while also drilling down to the root of Will's journey, which is his desire to have a family of his own. Sabienna Bowman, PEOPLE, 6 May 2026 That was the darkness before the dawn. Tim Britton, New York Times, 4 May 2026 The structure brings visitors below ground, from lightness to darkness, with sounds slowly dissipating. Solvej Schou, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2026 During Chicago’s bitter winter of 2013-2014, the Humboldt Park Lagoon froze over, and snow piled on top of the thick layer of ice, plunging vegetation into a deadly darkness. Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for darkness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for darkness
Noun
  • Even the resort's concrete pathways serve the mission—instead of traditional lights, they are bordered by the faint green and blue light of glow-in-the-dark pebbles.
    Michael d'Estries, Travel + Leisure, 6 May 2026
  • Some disc golf discs have extra features that can range from being glow-in-the-dark to floating when landing in water.
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
Noun
  • What’s hardest to shake, though, is the ambiguity with which The Dark Wizard approaches the idea of cruelty as a key to success.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 7 May 2026
  • There was, however, no ambiguity at the Russia Pavilion.
    Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 6 May 2026
Noun
  • The Boston Fleet and Ottawa Charge had six nights off between Games 1 and 2 of their series, with Game 2 taking place Friday night in Canada’s capital.
    Theodore Tollefson, Twin Cities, 8 May 2026
  • Former Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky said the night’s biggest surprise was Pratt’s performance.
    Teresa Liu, Daily News, 8 May 2026
Noun
  • But what exactly happens to these baby stars next isn't always clear (literally) because they are buried deep within clouds of dark, dusty gas that obscure them.
    Keith Cooper, Space.com, 28 Apr. 2026
  • The reporting and visual components offer a clear warning — for Atlanta and beyond — of the need for thoughtful planning for these centers as AI and cloud storage needs grow.
    Hugo Rojo, AJC.com, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Observing tips The lunar disk is entirely bereft of shadows during the full moon phase, making this the perfect time to trace the outline of lunar maria — where lava flows filled colossal impact basins billions of years ago before hardening to form sweeping basaltic plains.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 1 May 2026
  • The Harrison County Health Department notes dark clothing resembles the shadows where mosquitoes hide.
    Ryan Brennan May 1, Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026
Noun
  • Brand’s love letter to Musk casts a pall on the rest of the book, under which the author’s indifference to politics becomes more difficult to ignore.
    Alec Nevala-Lee, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026
  • The allegations have put a pall over the efforts of the Kenyan mission, which while not successful in returning security and stability to Haiti, has been credited with stopping the situation from completely collapsing.
    Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • In it, a crescent of Earth’s blue vitality hovers amid the blackness of space, above a high-definition brownish gray wasteland of lunar craters.
    Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 22 Apr. 2026
  • Together, these two superb artists make much of Yarris constantly seeking the light, as Yarris searches for a way forward from the blackness of death row.
    Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • That intrigue and mysteriousness still rest in the canyon walls today.
    Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 13 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Darkness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/darkness. Accessed 10 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on darkness

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster