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 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
Paul Sutter, Space.com, 6 June 2025
And, quite concretely, reading has always struck me as a passport to the world, one in which characters are more real than actual people, where values are more intense than in the dim light of reality, where characters fly up into destinies rather than paddle around in ambiguity.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 4 June 2025
Essence, 10 June 2025
On Wednesday, President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia told President Trump that Russia would retaliate for these strikes, Mr. Trump said, further dimming hopes for a cease-fire that were already faint.
—Marc Santora, New York Times, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for dim
Adjective
Within the voids, sophisticated observations can detect faint hints of structures, like small, dim dwarf galaxies dotting the vast expanses.
—Paul Sutter, Space.com, 6 June 2025
And, quite concretely, reading has always struck me as a passport to the world, one in which characters are more real than actual people, where values are more intense than in the dim light of reality, where characters fly up into destinies rather than paddle around in ambiguity.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 4 June 2025
Verb
Life—bills, work, family, health needs—can dim your creative spark.
—Essence, 10 June 2025
On Wednesday, President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia told President Trump that Russia would retaliate for these strikes, Mr. Trump said, further dimming hopes for a cease-fire that were already faint.
—Marc Santora, New York Times, 6 June 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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Burnout is no longer a vague emotional state but a measurable physiological response driven by chronic inflammation, insulin resistance and cellular fatigue.—
Ximena Araya-Fischel,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2025
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Many — most? — people have only a vague understanding of what the other is really up to.—
Evan Clark,
Footwear News,
13 June 2025
Adjective
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Juicy, tender ribs are hard to beat, and cooking them low and slow is the key to achieving that irresistible fall-off-the-bone texture and deep, savory flavor.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
23 June 2025
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And then there is a style that believes reading should mimic the obstruction and slow struggle of writing.—
Benjamin Hale
June 23,
Literary Hub,
23 June 2025
Verb
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All while staring directly into the eye of the stranger sitting opposite. Without depth perception, with facial features and body outlines obscured, with the one available eye fixed straight ahead, the interior of the space appears to swirl and pulse.—
Chadd Scott,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
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The strongest tool available to obscure your trail online is the Tor Browser.—
Andy Greenberg,
Wired News,
16 June 2025
Adjective
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Named for the distinctive dark stripes running across the back of its head, this medium-sized goose is specially adapted for one of the most extreme migrations in the animal kingdom.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
15 June 2025
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Its reversible design features dark stripes on one side made of 92 percent wool, 4 percent polyester, and 4 percent cotton, and the opposite side is made from 100 percent cotton in the solid natural color.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
15 June 2025
Adjective
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Then came a ‘faint voice’ May 30, 2025 12:00 PM Read Next National Man vanished in remote national park 2 weeks ago, CO officials say.—
Daniella Segura,
Sacbee.com,
12 June 2025
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The image also shows faint, ghostly rings around Uranus.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
11 June 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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Among the key agenda this year was also Trump’s tariff policy that has darkened the outlook for global economic growth.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
17 June 2025
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As for why our oceans are darkening, the causes likely differ by region.—
Jay Kakade
June 14,
New Atlas,
14 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dim. Accessed 27 Jun. 2025.
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