1
as in darkened
being without light or without much light
a dim, windowless room in the basement of the house
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in vague
not seen or understood clearly
have only a dim knowledge of the subject
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in slow
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily
our dog is kind of dim, but very sweet-natured
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to obscure
to make dark, dim, or indistinct
the storm clouds dimmed our view of the city from the airplane
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 dim
Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 6 Apr. 2026
The room is dim but never quiet.
—Liz Koch, STAT, 6 Apr. 2026
Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 4 Apr. 2026
Those manageable payments will linger well after the glow of your trip has dimmed.
—Bydavid Schepp, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dim
Adjective
The malfunction with the on-the-nose Rear Brake Light Outage Detection system, which wouldn’t alert you if the break light goes dim, has impacted around 3,300 Corvettes.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 6 Apr. 2026
The room is dim but never quiet.
—Liz Koch, STAT, 6 Apr. 2026
Verb
The gunmetal details add an edgy contrast without dimming the base's hypnotic shine.
—Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 4 Apr. 2026
Those manageable payments will linger well after the glow of your trip has dimmed.
—Bydavid Schepp, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dim
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dim
Adjective
-
In the darkened foyer, Ember contemplated this unassuming bit of paper, momentarily paralyzed by a mixture of dread and excitement stirred together, an overpowering sensation that oozed from the crown of her head, down the length of her body, then hardened, like a soft golden resin becoming solid.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 Apr. 2026
-
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
Adjective
-
This year, the administration’s budget proposal doesn’t include a hard deadline for phasing out SLS and Orion, just the vaguer request to look for commercial alternatives.—
Sana Pashankar,
Fortune,
11 Apr. 2026
-
There’s just sort of vague purple-ish themes throughout the special.—
Deputy Entertainment,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Or maybe this was a slow roll, meant to culminate with the two All-Stars crescendoing into the playoff push.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Feed Forever Goldy® Arborvitae annually in early spring with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
What went into the decision to obscure the identities of Sam’s underage victims without outright blurring their faces?—
Savannah Walsh,
Vanity Fair,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Both of these ballets feature dancers wearing stiff, geometrically inspired costumes that obscure their bodies and constrain their movements.—
Shanti Escalante-De Mattei,
ARTnews.com,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Sunscreen protects against sun damage, premature aging and dark spots.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Harden, 36, with his famous, protruding beard and those dark, piercing eyes, was determined to use his star power to get his way, to bring with him a slice of comfort to a new city.—
Joe Vardon,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The first concert starts with Ciani’s signature ocean sounds before Cunningham’s chords—dull, glassy—add an atonal sheen.—
Andrew Ryce,
Pitchfork,
9 Apr. 2026
-
These changes can leave your skin feeling dry, dull, and more sensitive than before.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
While attempting to catch them, officers heard a faint sound coming from a drainage pipe beneath them.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
6 Apr. 2026
-
To find them, scientists developed advanced computational methods that sift through massive datasets, using algorithms to scan millions of faint light sources and test billions of possible motion paths to pinpoint the slow, subtle movements of these distant worlds.—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
As my colleague Zach Harper expertly pointed out Wednesday, the rule itself — mandating that any player eligible for a postseason award must play 65 games in a season — looks pretty dumb right now.—
Chris Branch,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Looking back on his 27 years with the bank, Gentry said the timing, loopholes, tax strategies and negotiations that gave the business its acquisitive edge were not because of dumb luck.—
Chase Jordan
April 9,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dim. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
