1
as in dark
a time or place of little or no light
the raiding party snuck up under cover of darkness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ambiguity
the quality or state of having a veiled or uncertain meaning
the darkness of certain passages in the Book of Revelation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
Solar panels cannot operate in darkness, and battery systems alone struggle to bridge such long cycles without significant mass penalties.
—
Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 11 Feb. 2026
Solutions are more likely to appear as the sky moves from today’s darkness into tomorrow’s sunshine.
—Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 11 Feb. 2026
People consolidating monopolies want to do it in the cover of darkness.
—Larry Holder, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Inside the bathysphere of the novel, readers make contact with a darkness that our frightened minds might otherwise reject.
—Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for darkness
Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 11 Feb. 2026
Solutions are more likely to appear as the sky moves from today’s darkness into tomorrow’s sunshine.
—Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 11 Feb. 2026
People consolidating monopolies want to do it in the cover of darkness.
—Larry Holder, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Inside the bathysphere of the novel, readers make contact with a darkness that our frightened minds might otherwise reject.
—Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for darkness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for darkness
Noun
-
Colder air will move in after dark with increasing snow intensity expected and roadways becoming dangerous.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
17 Feb. 2026
-
The campaign nods to archival Loro Piana communication from the 1990s and to campaigns dedicated to the precious dark Merino Pecora Nera wool, to its signature White Sole shoe, and to the Loro Piana Record Bale Award.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Whether facing emotional burnout, therapy culture fatigue, or dating uncertainty, the return of symbolic meaning can help to avoid relationship ambiguity.—
Felysha Walker,
Miami Herald,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Like many recent theater school grads, Dela Cruz was still trying to find his niche as a performer, oscillating between the pursuits of ethnic ambiguity — a casting asset — and cultural identity.—
Malia Mendez,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Davidson was as dynamic as ever against Wisconsin, pouring in 24 points, five rebounds, six assists, four steals and three blocks on a night when most of her teammates struggled to find their stride.—
Ryan Kartje,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
-
One Irish supporters’ club group had 35 fans coming to the home meeting with Everton in November, a number that more than halved to 15 when the game was switched to a Monday night.—
Andy Mitten,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
What piles up now melts gradually through spring and summer, feeding rivers, farms, and household taps long after the clouds clear.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Carnegie Mellon was building a big initiative for an academic cloud lab—$50 million of equipment controlled by a mix of people and robots—and the interface would be via code.—
Deni Ellis Béchard,
Scientific American,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
When exhaustion overtakes them, something more sinister comes creeping from the shadows.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Charlotte loves Willow and will do anything to keep her alive and well, which leaves Amelia, Willow’s healthy older sister, in the shadows.—
Amanda Favazza,
Southern Living,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Slot also spoke about the impact of losing Diogo Jota, a tragedy which has cast a pall over the campaign.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Still, an obvious pall hung over the team, and no one needed to ask why the atmosphere was so dire.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The film's opening two minutes play out in complete blackness, a picture-less overture showcasing legendary James Bond composer John Barry's majestic score.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
8 Feb. 2026
-
With the streets in pitch blackness, some neighbors said their cameras don't capture much more than the immediate surroundings of their home.—
Clara Migoya,
USA Today,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
That intrigue and mysteriousness still rest in the canyon walls today.—
Madison Dapcevich,
Outside,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Darkness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/darkness. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
