1
as in darkened
being without light or without much light
a dim, windowless room in the basement of the house
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dim
Deana L. Weibel, The Conversation, 30 Apr. 2026
On a hill wreathed in mist above the dark sea that runs between New Zealand’s North and South Islands, Ward and others crossed rugged farmland late on Tuesday night, carrying seven crates in silence by dim red torchlight.
—ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026
Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 27 Apr. 2026
Don’t Forget the Light Fixtures Bugs and dust accumulate around porch lighting, dimming the glow over time.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dim
Adjective
This dim light is very similar to the moonlight that shines on the Earth at night.
—Deana L. Weibel, The Conversation, 30 Apr. 2026
On a hill wreathed in mist above the dark sea that runs between New Zealand’s North and South Islands, Ward and others crossed rugged farmland late on Tuesday night, carrying seven crates in silence by dim red torchlight.
—ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026
Verb
Cairenes are used to sitting at cafes until the small hours, but energy price spikes from the Iran war pushed authorities to impose a curfew, and dim or shut off streetlights, one of several such efforts to preserve fuel worldwide.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 27 Apr. 2026
Don’t Forget the Light Fixtures Bugs and dust accumulate around porch lighting, dimming the glow over time.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dim
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dim
Adjective
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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
-
Still, even after the election, Magyar has remained relentlessly on message—which is to say, vague and tight-lipped, leaving several inconvenient dilemmas unaddressed.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
-
Later, Liu Kang himself seemingly dies in a showdown with Shao Kahn, although his fate is kept a bit more vague.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
But so far, progress has been slow — if not nonexistent.—
Audrey Pachuta,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
-
Russia’s bigger and better-equipped army has been engaged in a slow, hard slog in Ukraine.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
But what exactly happens to these baby stars next isn't always clear (literally) because they are buried deep within clouds of dark, dusty gas that obscure them.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
28 Apr. 2026
-
All of that mythology, though, can obscure the real story.—
Jimmy Jellinek,
SPIN,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
But what exactly happens to these baby stars next isn't always clear (literally) because they are buried deep within clouds of dark, dusty gas that obscure them.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
28 Apr. 2026
-
All the bedrooms can be found upstairs, including one that’s currently being used as an office and a primary suite flaunting dual dressing rooms and baths, plus a sauna clad in dark gray stone.—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Best gentle shampoo for colored hair This award-winning shampoo and conditioner duo is made with organic rose oil and peaches, which revive dull or fading color.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
4 May 2026
-
The Noni Glow Face Oil is Miranda’s favorite, a lightweight yet powerful face oil formulated to help visibly nourish, brighten and smooth dry or dull skin.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 May 2026
Adjective
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That's because the waning gibbous moon will appear in the sky at the same time, most likely outshining many of the fainter shooting stars.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
4 May 2026
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That's because, as Gray explained, the impact will be too faint for observations.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
These dumb little kids were freaking bored.—
Emma Seiwell,
New York Daily News,
8 May 2026
-
The series will now be hosted by British comedian Jack Whitehall and the network has lined up a phalanx of celebrities aiming not to be the dumbest in the country.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dim. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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