darkness

Definition of darknessnext
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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

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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 Per AccuWeather, experts also recommend that aura-watchers allow their eyes at least 15 minutes to adjust to the darkness and avoid looking at bright light sources, such as the moon or phone screens. Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6 Nov. 2025 On the other side of that darkness, McCarty didn’t expect to find his father or his two older brothers. Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025 The perpétuelle montre à tact showcases many of the key refinements and complications that Breguet perfected, including automatic winding, a calendar display, and an ingenious tact mechanism for telling the time silently or in darkness. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 5 Nov. 2025 In this moment of political darkness, New York will be the light. Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for darkness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for darkness
Noun
  • Columbus Police The footage shows the person in a dark, hooded top and lighter color pants, walking with their hands in their pockets.
    Kiki Intarasuwan, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
  • Sunny skies by day often bring clear nightscapes after dark, so soak up the starry splendor on the Tucson Astro Trail, which links 12 area observatories and dark-sky parks.
    Stephanie Vermillion, Outside, 4 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • As usual, Coon thrives in ambiguity, layering a seemingly straightforward woman with depth.
    Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Participants also took a personality assessment called the High Potential Trait Indicator (HTPI), which measures six traits including competitiveness and tolerance of ambiguity.
    Joe Wilkins Published Jan 8, Futurism, 8 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • For one night, under cold rain and flickering red lights, the noise faded.
    Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
  • On Saturday night in the Pacific Northwest, the Hornets kept their FCS playoff hopes alive with their big-play attack, racing past Portland State 52-24 at Hillsboro Stadium.
    Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 9 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • On-device processing keeps personal data local, while secure cloud services extend functionality with user control.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 7 Jan. 2026
  • That said, don’t wait for perfectly clear skies to head into the hills – even in bright, sunny weather, the Matterhorn loves playing peek-a-boo behind the clouds.
    Rick Steves, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The changes also allowed Mingo to step out of the shadows cast by André DeShields and Richard Pryor, who played the Wiz in the original Broadway show and 1978 movie adaptation, and make the role his own.
    Peter Larsen, Oc Register, 7 Jan. 2026
  • In it, prisoners trapped inside a cave perceive the world only through shadows cast by outside objects.
    Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 7 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • In early 2023, the pandemic-era glow had worn off watch sales, kicking off a luxury slowdown that continues to cast a pall over the trade.
    Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Lynne McAra Clark/Anadolu via Getty Images Australia's east coast welcomed 2026 just two hours later, but in Sydney, the country's largest city, celebrations were held under the pall of Australia's worst mass shooting in almost 30 years.
    CBS News, CBS News, 31 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • One hour becomes two, two become three, my mind straining for answers in the blackness.
    Rowan Jacobsen, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Smoke and blackness enfolded him.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • That intrigue and mysteriousness still rest in the canyon walls today.
    Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 13 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Darkness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/darkness. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.

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