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 matte
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 dumb
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
Kelly Rook Daly, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2025
University of Warwick/Mark Garlick Many of the stars in the Milky Way galaxy are small, dim red dwarfs—stars much smaller than the sun in both size and mass.
—Ritsuko Kawai, Wired News, 9 July 2025
Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 15 July 2025
The moon begins to dim, but the effect is quite subtle.
—John Tufts, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for dim
Adjective
Think musky candles, dim lighting, lo-fi jazz and smooth whiskey with a big cube.
—Kelly Rook Daly, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2025
University of Warwick/Mark Garlick Many of the stars in the Milky Way galaxy are small, dim red dwarfs—stars much smaller than the sun in both size and mass.
—Ritsuko Kawai, Wired News, 9 July 2025
Verb
On Tuesday, individuals with special needs and a companion are invited to ride carnival rides for free from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Lights will be dimmed and sound reduced for a sensory-friendly environment.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 15 July 2025
The moon begins to dim, but the effect is quite subtle.
—John Tufts, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for dim
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dim
Adjective
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This Lulus bag is primarily matte and clean, with just a tinge of silver on the top handle and cutesy bow.—
Alyssa Grabinski,
People.com,
22 Feb. 2025
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To get this result, Dempsey recommends the Dior Addict Lip Tint for its transfer-proof, semi-matte finish.—
Loren Savini,
Allure,
22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Diners and customers still face overwhelming menus, vague promotions, delayed support and unclear pricing.—
Maulikkumar Pandya,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
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So the question is, when does a vague ending serve more of a purpose than a clear one?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 July 2025
Adjective
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Ratajkowski has been fighting the stereotype of the dumb model from the beginning of her career.—
Daniel Jackson,
Allure,
18 July 2017
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Ninety nine percent of all NFL players are explicitly not dumb.—
Andy Benoit,
The MMQB,
10 July 2017
Verb
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By the time of totality at 3:20 p.m., dense clouds obscured the view, with an eerie darkness and a golden horizon.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
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He was either shrouded in haze (the gasps of the fog machine eventually became indistinguishable from the vapor being collectively exhaled by the crowd) or obscured by low-angle backlighting.—
Amanda Petrusich,
New Yorker,
21 July 2025
Adjective
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Transformed into a swan by the evil sorcerer Rothbart, Odette and Siegfried's love faces an impossible battle against dark forces.—
Maggie Menderski,
The Courier-Journal,
22 July 2025
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Number two, male, white, tall, gray hair, dark eyes.—
Danielle Bacher,
People.com,
21 July 2025
Adjective
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Hill's faint whistling can be heard in the background, hinting that the time loop may be far from broken, and Hill may not be gone after all.—
Allison DeGrushe Published,
EW.com,
30 July 2025
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My favorite hotel memory is: Waking up at Hotel Ritz to birdsong, sunlight, and the faint scent of fresh croissants — Parisian magic in every sense.—
Caroline Tell,
Forbes.com,
28 July 2025
Adjective
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As elevated mortgage rates continue to put a damper on the housing market locally and nationally, rising inventory, slower sales and lower prices have made for more favorable conditions for potential buyers in the Austin-area housing market.—
Shonda Novak,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
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Progress toward the opening of the micro-home village has been slow following a ceremonial groundbreaking held in July 2023.—
Joseph Flaherty,
Arkansas Online,
30 July 2025
Verb
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But perceptions of where the economy is heading have darkened.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 July 2025
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Just after sunset, as the sky begins to darken, a 2%-lit waxing crescent moon will appear just hours after being in its invisible new phase.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dim. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.
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