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 matte
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
Jessica Wang, EW.com, 11 Apr. 2025
The Warriors’ playoff hopes look dim after losing Game 4 of their second-round series with the Timberwolves amid a third-quarter avalanche that included a scoreless spell of nearly five minutes.
—Michael Nowels, Mercury News, 13 May 2025
Evan Bush, NBC news, 8 May 2025
Actions such as dimming artificial lights at night and reducing the use of pesticides can help.
—Christopher Halsch, The Conversation, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for dim
Adjective
Anjelica Huston navigated the bright lights of Broadway on the hit series Smash, but her experience behind the scenes was admittedly dim.
—Jessica Wang, EW.com, 11 Apr. 2025
The Warriors’ playoff hopes look dim after losing Game 4 of their second-round series with the Timberwolves amid a third-quarter avalanche that included a scoreless spell of nearly five minutes.
—Michael Nowels, Mercury News, 13 May 2025
Verb
In an April 14 court filing, the university’s vice provost for research, Mari Ostendorf, said the campus mood had dimmed.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 8 May 2025
Actions such as dimming artificial lights at night and reducing the use of pesticides can help.
—Christopher Halsch, The Conversation, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for dim
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dim
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
This granular visibility transforms sustainability from a vague corporate initiative into precise, actionable intelligence, enabling manufacturers to make targeted improvements that collectively drive significant environmental impact while enhancing operational efficiency.—
David Ly,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2025
-
Therapists should be trained to help patients build grit and achieve goals, not just listen passively, offer vague reassurances, or affirm every feeling.—
Tom Rogers,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 May 2025
Adjective
-
Still, even if the growth is slower than in some North American leagues, European teams continue to appreciate.—
Justin Teitelbaum,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
-
The solution to getting those who may be slower to embrace AI isn’t to push them harder, but to coach them and consider their backgrounds.—
Greg Edwards,
The Conversation,
30 May 2025
Verb
-
Elite’s arrangement with Prime, as a private corporation, obscures details of how millions of its public school dollars are ultimately spent.—
Kristen Taketa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 May 2025
-
The simple stories of great inventors obscure the fact that technological innovations often have many parents.—
Matthew Wills,
JSTOR Daily,
18 May 2025
Adjective
-
Related Stories All About Jalen Brunson's Parents, Sandra and Rick Brunson See Photos of Timothée Chalamet, Ben Affleck, Jon Bernthal and More On May 16, Chalamet wore a Chrome Hearts tracksuit in a dark navy blue.—
Starr Bowenbank,
People.com,
22 May 2025
-
With their golden yellow rays surrounding a dark cone, Rudbeckias are quintessential summer blooms.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
22 May 2025
Adjective
-
Fortunately, telescopic technology has come a long way in the past 95 years, with deep surveys that can capture the passage of a faint object.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
30 May 2025
-
In Court Musk Announces His Exit From Trump Administration—What To Know The faint signal from navigation satellites is easy to jam.—
David Hambling,
Forbes.com,
29 May 2025
Adjective
-
Ratajkowski has been fighting the stereotype of the dumb model from the beginning of her career.—
Daniel Jackson,
Allure,
18 July 2017
-
Ninety nine percent of all NFL players are explicitly not dumb.—
Andy Benoit,
The MMQB,
10 July 2017
Verb
-
Taking stock of the darkening afternoon sky from the rooftop of Netflix HQ in the Flatiron District, the actress was optimistic that the weather might delay her flight and give her extra time to unwind in the city.—
Kristen Tauer,
Footwear News,
22 May 2025
-
Orwell: 2 + 2 = 5 goes well beyond just the darkening reality in America.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
17 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dim. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share