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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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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
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Recent Examples of dim
Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 8 Feb. 2026
The space has an Old World bistro atmosphere, dark wood, dim lighting.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 6 Feb. 2026
The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2026
As Hill and Hirsch traded correct responses and kept chasing one another’s scores, Betts found her prospects of victory rapidly dimming.
—Claire McNear, Rolling Stone, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dim
Adjective
In this dim foyer, Benjamin Moore's Natural Cream swoops in to provide some airiness.
—Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 8 Feb. 2026
The space has an Old World bistro atmosphere, dark wood, dim lighting.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Verb
Even with a new contract signed last June, that spotlight will only dim once success arrives.
—The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2026
As Hill and Hirsch traded correct responses and kept chasing one another’s scores, Betts found her prospects of victory rapidly dimming.
—Claire McNear, Rolling Stone, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dim
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dim
Adjective
-
As scientists often find darkened teeth in ancient burials, other factors can contribute to a black appearance, notably the chewing of betel leaves.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Feb. 2026
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Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui posted a video to X over the weekend, showing a dazzling view of auroras spreading like a tall blanket over the darkened Earth below.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The president has also been intentionally vague about his ultimate goal with Iran.—
Greg Myre,
NPR,
21 Feb. 2026
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These aren’t just vague wellness notions.—
Sally Jenkins,
The Atlantic,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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But that boost also didn’t last long – 2025 was marked mostly by Russia’s slow, grinding offensive along the 1,200-kilometer-long frontline.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
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Implementing peace deals is notoriously difficult, so slow progress can be expected.—
Elizabeth Shackelford,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
And a total solar eclipse—when the moon passes in front of the sun and fully obscures the star from our view—will grace the Northern Hemisphere on August 12.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
17 Feb. 2026
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Stay at least 200 feet behind any working plow to make sure your visibility isn't obscured.—
Maia Pandey,
jsonline.com,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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At the center of the space will be a central bar wrapped in wood paneling and leather accents, topped with dark stone, according to the release.—
Noelle Alviz-Gransee
February 17,
Kansas City Star,
17 Feb. 2026
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The shoes accompanied a silky black midi skirt, a simple gray sweater, a thick dark turquoise belt and a long furry gray coat worn off her shoulders.—
Jaden Thompson,
Footwear News,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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So is, arguably in softer garb, the trend of trigger warnings, which—mirroring the grim cancer label on a pack of cigarettes—dull the impact of a product or dissuade users entirely by advising them that its consumption may be hazardous to their health.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Feb. 2026
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These may just be the ordinary, dull rhythms of a relatively stable relationship, and yet these actors make the mundane so much more.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Hearing the faint sirens of the white police officers who have been monitoring the area for no real reason, Kid attempts to blend into the party by grabbing the mic of the bored DJ—played by Parliament-Funkadelic’s George Clinton—to freestyle.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
13 Feb. 2026
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But Charli ends the album with a sense of faint dawn creeping in against the gloom.—
Jon Dolan,
Rolling Stone,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Before, Tatum had only thought of himself as a dumb jock on the football team.—
Kamal Morgan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Feb. 2026
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Hustling up the twisty Route 33 in California’s Ojai Valley, the C-HR felt responsive, but the lateral pitching at speed, coupled with a 4,300-pound curb weight, discourages you from carrying a dumb pace into corners.—
Adam Ismail,
The Drive,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dim. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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