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
Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
Everyone else was like a dim light bulb set against Usha’s radiance.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 10 May 2026
Andrew Chung, USA Today, 7 May 2026
These living materials could also serve as canaries in the coal mine for water safety, glowing brighter or dimming in the presence of specific toxins.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for dim
Adjective
The windowless dining room remains perpetually dim.
—Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
Everyone else was like a dim light bulb set against Usha’s radiance.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 10 May 2026
Verb
Roberts, who has led the court since 2005, appeared to acknowledge the public's dimming approval of the court, shown in opinion polls over the past few years, as its conservative majority continues to push American law dramatically rightward.
—Andrew Chung, USA Today, 7 May 2026
These living materials could also serve as canaries in the coal mine for water safety, glowing brighter or dimming in the presence of specific toxins.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 7 May 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
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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
-
Two Chinese defense companies have issued vague statements that together point to a possible new long-distance shooting record, although neither has provided technical specifications or independently verifiable data.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
16 May 2026
-
Teenagers often respond better to concrete information than vague warnings.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
Pool service can be a bit slow during busy times, but once your perfectly prepared daiquiri arrives, all is forgiven.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 May 2026
-
So future agreements could involve cooler normalisation, selective security cooperation, quieter diplomacy and a slower expansion.—
Chas Newkey-Burden,
TheWeek,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
The shoes appeared to have high block heels that were obscured by her wide-legged jeans.—
Karla Rodriguez,
Footwear News,
12 May 2026
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Coastal areas and islands may also have strong prospects, but the very low sun angle means even thin cloud layers near the horizon could obscure the eclipse.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
Adjective
-
The rooms In darker hues with lots of hardwood and colorful fabrics, the rooms here don’t fall into your standard contemporary look.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 May 2026
-
Forty-four of the 89 counties along Route 66 were sundown towns, communities where it was encouraged for Black people to leave before dark — or else.—
Jasmine Desiree,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Adjective
-
The world of college football is rarely dull.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
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This charger brings interactivity and enthusiasm to this process that has been viewed as so dull for so long.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
Looking beyond the main structure captured by Webb, the galaxy’s spiral arms extend into a faint, wide ring of hydrogen gas stretching thousands of light-years.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
10 May 2026
-
Meucci started seeing bright lights and feeling faint.—
Chris Hoffman,
CBS News,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
In fact, one of my chief complaints about some contemporary thrillers is the feeling that characters are required to do dumb stuff by the unseen hand of the author, just so more crazy twists can happen.—
John Warner,
Chicago Tribune,
16 May 2026
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But Williamson isn’t usually dumb.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dim. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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