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
Other symptoms may include blurred or dim vision, loss of peripheral vision, or decreased color vision. — Melissa Rudy , Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 22 Sep. 2026 One is set up to display on a TV for the crowd, showcasing the light from millions of stars and galaxies too dim to see with the naked eye. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 19 Sep. 2026
Verb
At show time, the lights dimmed and the crowd led the performance. — Gina Park, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026 However, comments Tuesday from influential New York Fed President John Williams tempered those expectations, and the data Wednesday further dimmed the outlook for an October move. — Jeff Cox, CNBC, 30 Sep. 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
  • Around them stand darkened houses, and uncollected trash piles up on the street.
    — Will Freeman, Foreign Affairs, 17 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of darkened
Adjective
  • This is a season so overwhelmingly dull that it’s taken three different gay guys to recap it.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Iñárritu seems to think this visual alone is funny, but that would require getting past the persistently dull and witless writing.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of dull
Adjective
  • Okay, Noah is somehow a Manhunter, though how this came to be is left vague and almost intangible for much of the episode.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The law includes an exception for when a pregnant person’s life is in danger, but physicians and lawyers have said the language is vague and could be interpreted differently by different doctors and hospitals.
    — Ciara McCarthy October 5, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of vague
Adjective
  • Because mRNA technology bypasses the slow process of growing viruses in eggs, mRNA manufacturing allows for later influenza strain selection and fast production, unlike traditional vaccines.
    — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
  • After his sudden death in 1960, Olivetti began a slow decline and was eventually broken up and merged with a telecommunications company.
    — E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of slow
Verb
  • Aggregate data can obscure radically different labor market realities, and monetary policy calibrated only to the aggregate can miss the productive capacity sitting beneath it.
    — Katica Roy, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Racing on Crait kicks up those vibrant red dust clouds, which obscure the view of other racers and can even slow them down.
    — Hayes Madsen, Space.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of obscure
Adjective
  • There’s nothing about the white bedding, dark-wood furniture, and tan carpeting that will knock your socks off—but nothing that will make your toes curl, either.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Guadagnino and screenwriter Simon Rich mold the material from dark humor through technocratic giddiness to sobering horror.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 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
  • The concept uses single-photon lidar to detect faint laser reflections from an aircraft.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 30 Sep. 2026
  • This places the light on a more sensitive part of your retina and can make faint objects easier to see.
    — Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 30 Sep. 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 8 Oct. 2026.

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