DUSK Synonyms: 183 Similar and Opposite Words

dusk 1 of 3

adjective

ˈdəsk

Definition of dusk

as in darkened

being without light or without much light under a dusk sky, the campers wearily bedded down for the night

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dusk

2 of 3

noun

as in sunset

the time from when the sun begins to set to the onset of total darkness we stopped playing at dusk, since it was getting too dark to see the ball

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in night

a time or place of little or no light legends of fearsome beasts living in the dusk of the great forest

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as in shade

partial darkness due to the obstruction of light rays the forbidding dusk of Germany's famed Black Forest

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dusk

3 of 3

verb

as in to darken

to grow dark the grief-stricken woman continued to sit in the dusking room until she was completely enveloped in darkness

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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 dusk

Adjective

Mylar space blankets draped across their shoulders glistened a surreal golden hue as the vessel’s blinding strobe lights illuminated the post-dusk spectacle. — Los Angeles Times, 19 Dec. 2021 Forgive me for skipping dinner, but my pre-dusk meals were simply not going to be outshone. — Andi Berlin, The Arizona Republic, 22 Aug. 2021

Noun

Also, avoid walking at dawn and dusk, when coyotes are active. — Emily Tarinelli, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026 Hike in groups when possible, keep children close, and remain aware of your surroundings, especially during dawn, dusk and night hours when mountain lions are most active. — Kyle Martin, Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2026

Verb

With minimal humidity, near-perfect clear-sky frequency and vast empty horizons, Namibia offers the kind of slow, immersive darkness that makes dusking feel less like a trend and more like a return to something ancient. — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 24 May 2026 The park is open from daylight to dusk for visitors and 24/7 for campers. — Isa Almeida, Oklahoman, 15 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dusk

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dusk

Adjective

This trend has been pretty pervasive among designer bags recently, with shoppers buying new Prada and Chanel bags with darkened leather to give them a used look, or sourcing vintage Celine bags with obvious signs of wear.

— Irene Richardson, InStyle, 2 July 2026
She’s talked up her push to convert darkened streetlights, many of them stripped of their copper wire, to solar power.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026

Definition of darkened

Noun

Washington did grow, and for years tourists and residents flocked to the Capitol’s wide terrace overlooking the National Mall, especially at sunset.

— Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 11 Sep. 2026
The woman’s head of auburn curls, so neatly assembled and without a hair out of place, was flung to the side and her cheek, powdered with rouge, was now as red as a sunset.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of sunset

Noun

Judge returned to the Yankees’ lineup Tuesday night carrying an astonishing 177 OPS+ in his career.

— Jayson Stark, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Where ayahuasca ceremonies typically happen at night – each participant lying down inside a private journey of visions, tears and purging – huachuma ceremonies happen in daylight.

— Pardis Mahdavi, The Conversation, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of night

Verb

China’s growth target is already its lowest since 1991, and the economic picture is darkened further by a real estate downturn that is straining local government finances and undercutting spending capacity, Goldman Sachs said in a note to clients.

— Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 7 Sep. 2026
When a treatment starts, the room darkens, and chromatherapy lights cast soft purple, blue, and red hues across the room as a soft mist showers down from the ceiling.

— Jen Murphy, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of darken

Adjective

As Florian Wirtz was substituted during Liverpool’s 2-2 opening day draw at Newcastle United, the German midfielder sat on the bench, retrieved a bottle of dark red liquid, and began to drink.

— Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
In this version, the couple has moved from Chicago to London for a fresh start—bad things happened in Chicago—and the set features a wide town house with dark corners and William Morris wallpaper.

— Anna Russell, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of dark

Noun

For evening observers, this apparition has been more frustrating than triumphant, with Venus lingering low in the glow of twilight instead of climbing into a commanding position.

— Joe Rao, Space.com, 5 Sep. 2026
But there have also been many mid-30s former All-Stars who couldn’t muster anything remotely close to greatness during their twilight tours with the Heat.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of twilight

Noun

To be fair, Snyder, who’s also credited as the film’s cinematographer, captures no shortage of admittedly stirring images throughout, especially those involving flickering light and brooding shadows.

— Michael Rechtshaffen, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2026
Bluesign is stepping out from the supply chain shadows and into the world of consumers.

— Jessica Binns, Vogue, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of shadows

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during

dusk

dusked

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Style

“Dusk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dusk. Accessed 15 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of dusk

adjective

noun

verb

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