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
Some products marketed for SAD are too dim to do much good, Desan said. — ABC News, 4 Nov. 2026 Related work found the same dim night worsened weight gain, glucose control and inflammation in animals on a high-fat diet. — Randy J. Nelson, Scientific American, 30 Oct. 2026
Verb
The noise dimmed as the bridge went over our heads, then came the pop of a Champagne bottle. — Matt Ortile, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2026 When indoors in the evening, dim the lights and use warm light bulbs rather than overhead and blue lighting. — Randy J. Nelson, Scientific American, 30 Oct. 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
  • Just like many of his neighbors, the sound of the Delciello’s bell sent Carmody scrambling to round up tools and knives that needed their dull blades refreshed.
    — Susan DeGrane, Chicago Tribune, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Spend your peak time on low-value work, and your axe will be dull for everything that counts.
    — Jeremy Macliver, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of dull
Adjective
  • Hoffman denied the allegations at the time, issuing only a vague apology.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 Nov. 2026
  • Both models can answer this clearly — a vague answer is the warning sign, not the model itself.
    — Burak Onal, Miami Herald, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of vague
Adjective
  • Increasingly, there are elevated places to stay that preserve the soul of this place, opening in a slow trickle like Valbona Resort and Spa (2024) and SeSam Villas in Theth (2025).
    — Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Nov. 2026
  • The Bears jumped out to a 9-2 lead as USC was slow getting going offensively and committed three quick turnovers.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 12 Nov. 2026
Definition of slow
Verb
  • As light mist obscured the far-off Chicago skyline, only the faint sounds of metal cranes clanging and construction vehicles beeping in the distance broke up the quiet morning at Park 566 in South Shore.
    — Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The result is enough glare remaining to obscure a planet, but Wang and colleagues developed a new approach to this problem.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of obscure
Adjective
  • The watch is home to a dark gray gradient opaline in the dial’s center, surrounded by a light-gray sunburst gradient on the chapter ring.
    — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 10 Nov. 2026
  • The television special offered a glimpse of the conversation pit, now done up with dark maroon carpet and a navy sofa with white cushions.
    — Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of dark
Adjective
  • The finish is a semi-matte—smooth, satin, and shine-free—that looks looks like velvet on the lips.
    — Kiana Murden, Vogue, 6 Oct. 2026
  • 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
Definition of matte
Adjective
  • As light mist obscured the far-off Chicago skyline, only the faint sounds of metal cranes clanging and construction vehicles beeping in the distance broke up the quiet morning at Park 566 in South Shore.
    — Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The brightest planets are 100,000 times fainter than their host stars, meaning spotting them is like observing a firefly hovering around a lighthouse.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 6 Nov. 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 13 Nov. 2026.

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