dim 1 of 2

adjective

ˈdim How to pronounce dim (audio)
Definition of dimnext
1
as in darkened
being without light or without much light a dim, windowless room in the basement of the house

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2
as in dulled
lacking a surface luster or gloss over time, exposure to ultraviolet light will make bright pigments turn dim

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3
as in vague
not seen or understood clearly have only a dim knowledge of the subject

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4
as in slow
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily our dog is kind of dim, but very sweet-natured

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dim

2 of 2

verb

as in to obscure
to make dark, dim, or indistinct the storm clouds dimmed our view of the city from the airplane

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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 dim
Adjective
More officers were stashed throughout the dim warehouse, and still more waited miles down the road for the signal. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 July 2026 Other bright-light studies have measured roughly 20% to 40% higher peak cortisol in the first hour after waking when people were exposed to bright morning light versus dim conditions. — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 21 July 2026
Verb
Merger and acquisition activity fell 56% year-on-year to 16 transactions, and local bourses, while flat on the conflict, have missed the AI optimism lifting markets elsewhere, dimming IPO prospects for the region’s larger startups. — Kelsey Warner, semafor.com, 13 July 2026 This gives you a massive 40% discount on a giant display packing 3,000 local dimming zones, a native 165-hertz sports refresh tracker, a premium Devialet sound system, and conversational Gemini Interactive AI built directly into Google TV. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 9 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for dim
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dim
  1. darkened
  2. dull
  3. vague
  4. slow
  5. obscure
  6. dark
  7. matte
  8. faint
Adjective
  • This trend has been pretty pervasive among designer bags recently, with shoppers buying new Prada and Chanel bags with darkened leather to give them a used look, or sourcing vintage Celine bags with obvious signs of wear.
    — Irene Richardson, InStyle, 2 July 2026
  • She’s talked up her push to convert darkened streetlights, many of them stripped of their copper wire, to solar power.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
Definition of darkened
Adjective
  • While laminate has a protective coating that shields it from damage, using the wrong cleaning products will etch away at this top layer and dull its shine.
    — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 31 July 2026
  • As the years go by, the hair shaft tends to thin out, resulting in strands that are more fragile, dull, and brittle.
    — Laura Scafati, Vanity Fair, 31 July 2026
Definition of dull
Adjective
  • Perhaps in an attempt to recognize the regulatory environment, the letter is notably careful and slightly vague in its language.
    — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 29 July 2026
  • Second, rather than vague commitments to pacing, double down on safety and security investments.
    — Christian Catalini, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of vague
Adjective
  • The slow pace continued for a while, but eventually, Punk took down Rhodes with a leaping heel kick and tweaked his knee.
    — Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Long days were spent cleaning, drawing and waiting for customers during slow periods, all while mastering a craft that permanently alters another person’s body.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of slow
Verb
  • Yet statistics alone obscure another story and one that is rarely centered in public memory.
    — Jallicia Jolly, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026
  • Their selective invocations of Washington may have obscured his complicity, but some abolitionists truly believed doing so would help bring the horror of American slavery to an end.
    — John Garrison Marks, The Atlantic, 25 July 2026
Definition of obscure
Adjective
  • Protesters covered events in real time, filming Instagram reels, sharing videos and memes – often laced with dark humor and jibes at Modi – and posting updates from the protest site.
    — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 28 July 2026
  • The path of totality — the moon’s dark shadow — will cross eastern Greenland, western Iceland and northern Spain, from where the sun’s corona will become visible, if skies are clear, for up to 2 minutes 18 seconds.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Definition of dark
Adjective
  • Its 85-inch QLED display features a highly matte anti-glare screen, so your art and movies look lifelike without annoying reflections.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 11 Mar. 2026
  • The long-wearing formula sets to a semi-matte finish that resists oil and humidity, too.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 26 Nov. 2025
Definition of matte
Adjective
  • Because the new moon falls at virtually the same time, moonlight will not interfere, allowing even faint meteors to become visible from dark locations.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Red baseball stitches affix the quarter and foxing, and a slightly glossy gray Swoosh carries a faint diamond pattern.
    — Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 31 July 2026
Definition of faint

Phrases Containing dim

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diluting
dim
dim bulb
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Cite this Entry

“Dim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dim. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on dim

Nglish: Translation of dim for Spanish Speakers

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