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
Ta-Nehisi Coates,
Vanity Fair,
15 June 2026
The lighting is dim and moody, glowing paper lanterns cast a red glow over the space, and there’s Vietnamese pop music playing over the speakers.
—
Mark Dejoy,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
10 June 2026
ABC News,
29 June 2026
Under his watch, Ferrari’s flame looks unlikely to dim.
—
The Editors,
Robb Report,
27 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for dim
Adjective
Even as the United States expanded its rule, there always remained a dim sense that an Empire of Liberty was a contradiction.
—
Ta-Nehisi Coates,
Vanity Fair,
15 June 2026
The lighting is dim and moody, glowing paper lanterns cast a red glow over the space, and there’s Vietnamese pop music playing over the speakers.
—
Mark Dejoy,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
10 June 2026
Verb
Theaters in London’s West End will dim their lights on Wednesday evening in tribute to her.
—
ABC News,
29 June 2026
Under his watch, Ferrari’s flame looks unlikely to dim.
—
The Editors,
Robb Report,
27 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for dim
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dim
Adjective
-
She’s talked up her push to convert darkened streetlights, many of them stripped of their copper wire, to solar power.
-
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.
Adjective
-
But all work and no play can make for a dull chief scientific officer.
-
The great speculators became talkative and communicative or dull, sullen, silent, and peevish.
Adjective
-
There’s no reason to think, for example, that decisions made by political appointees based on vague standards would be any more transparent than those made by peer reviewers based on scientific merit.
-
American Mission’s partnership with the company, as well as the ads’ vague message about Donalds, exemplify the opaque nature of the AI industry’s spending in the 2026 election cycle.
Adjective
-
There was no repeat of the slow start that cost him a spot last season.
-
The house old-fashioned can be made with bourbon or gin and is a much slower sip.
Verb
-
The irony is a bit hard to ignore — the very environment being modified to protect or maintain beaches was simultaneously obscuring the ecological processes happening just offshore.
-
And what’s a novelist but a fence, furnishing imaginary scenes with choice pieces of reality while obscuring their provenance?
Adjective
-
The top-of-the-line chef’s kitchen sports metallic cabinetry paired with dark marble countertops and backsplashes.
-
These include rolled or folded leaf blades, a dark or blue tinge to the foliage, or lingering footprints after walking on the lawn.
Adjective
-
Its 85-inch QLED display features a highly matte anti-glare screen, so your art and movies look lifelike without annoying reflections.
-
The long-wearing formula sets to a semi-matte finish that resists oil and humidity, too.
Adjective
-
Croatia looked to have tied the game in the final moments, but the faintest of touches by a Croatian player made Croatia offside.
-
Look almost directly above Mars for a much fainter, star-like point of light.
Cite this Entry
“Dim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dim. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
