as in shadows
a time or place of little or no light
fumbling around in the semidarkness
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Recent Examples of semidarkness
From its first painterly images, of the face of Meryl Streep, sad and tender and lovely in the semidarkness, the film declares its artistry, its sensitivity and its theme.
—
Los Angeles Times, 25 Jan. 2023
She [Daria] looks at me and smiles in the semidarkness, a calm, shy smile, full of love.
—Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 3 Dec. 2021
Both try to exercise in semidarkness.
—Washington Post, 1 Sep. 2020
Hong establishes feelings of isolation from the very first shot, an image of an empty room in semidarkness that becomes a visual motif in the film.
—Ben Sachs, Chicago Reader, 12 July 2018
Los Angeles Times, 25 Jan. 2023
She [Daria] looks at me and smiles in the semidarkness, a calm, shy smile, full of love.
—Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 3 Dec. 2021
Both try to exercise in semidarkness.
—Washington Post, 1 Sep. 2020
Hong establishes feelings of isolation from the very first shot, an image of an empty room in semidarkness that becomes a visual motif in the film.
—Ben Sachs, Chicago Reader, 12 July 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for semidarkness
Noun
-
Add Giannis Antetokounmpo, and then having a group of hard-working, persistent, industrious players that succeed in the shadows is fine.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
31 Jan. 2026
-
He has since been released without bail, but the political implications still sit in the shadows, especially after an event celebrating Black music, culture, and history.—
Essence,
Essence,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The bright blue bioluminescence visible to nighttime visitors is even more dramatic against the darkness during a new moon.—
Carley Rojas Avila,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Wang specializes in balancing tragedy with mirth (see her award-winning film The Farewell), though Expats plunges deeper into grief and darkness.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Passengers get to experience a few minutes of weightlessness and see Earth against the blackness of space during New Shepard flights, each of which lasts 10 to 12 minutes.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Even stranger, the negative space between the stars had flipped to positive, forming a soft, almost palpable blackness that embraced the stars and reached all the way to Earth, enveloping it and me in the same intergalactic blanket.—
Michael Pollan,
The Atlantic,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Softer lighting feels more refined, enhances curb appeal after dark, and creates a welcoming glow.—
Angelika Pokovba,
Martha Stewart,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Park officials advise visitors not to ride, ski or sled after dark until the lights are fixed.—
John Meyer,
Denver Post,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Similar to bears, experts recommend not leaving food outside, keeping dogs on leashes, avoiding leaving pets outdoors alone, and being mindful when walking or hiking alone during dawn or dusk hours.—
Brady Halbleib,
CBS News,
3 Feb. 2026
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The actors’ expressions aren’t wholly legible through the glass and the falling dusk, but the air around them is thick with curdling resentment and sudden grief.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Most notable is the boned corset dress Robbie wore last night at the film’s London premiere, designed by Turkish-British designer Dilara Findikoglu.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Schwesinger was the favorite coming into the night after a tremendous year at middle linebacker for a formidable Browns defense despite what the record may say in 2025.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Steve Madden Leni Ballet Flats These Steve Madden glove flats are genuinely comfortable and total compliment magnets—coming in statement-adjacent colorways that set them apart from the usual (plus a classic black, for good measure).—
Annie Blackman,
InStyle,
31 Jan. 2026
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The Parisian customization house reimagined the World Is Yours Dual Time Zone, dressing it almost entirely in its signature black.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Talton described sitting in a wheelchair outside the hospital, watching the downtown Phoenix skyline at twilight.—
Richard Ruelas,
AZCentral.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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During totality, temperatures drop, and the daytime sky turns twilight-blue.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Semidarkness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/semidarkness. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
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